A teacher from the Midlands has spoken out over beings trapped in the epicentre of China's  coronavirus outbreak.

Kharn Lambert, who lives in Wuhan, has voiced his concern about leaving his home as hundreds more locals are infected every day.

The PE teacher, from Leicestershire, is concerned about his 81-year-old grandmother, Veronica Theobald.

The director of Public Health England said it was "highly likely" cases of the deadly virus - which has killed 17 and infected hundreds - would be seen in the UK.

Wuhan, with a population of approximately 11 million, has been restricted by an unprecedented and indefinite lockdown in an attempt to halt the spread of the virus.

Mirror Online reports Veronica is visiting him from the UK and is unable to travel home because flights have been grounded until further notice.

A patient is transferred by an ambulance to the Infectious Disease Centre of Princess Margaret Hospital in Hong Kong

Lambert, 31, ventured out of his home for the first time in days on Friday to buy food, and he wore a mask and immediately washed his clothes and had a shower when he returned.

The 31-year-old said fear had settled over the city of 11million people, which has been locked down in a desperate bid to control the SARS-like virus that has killed at least 26 so far.

Mr Lambert said the city's normally bustling streets are now "dead" with public transport halted and people forced to stay in Wuhan during the Lunar New Year holiday, which is usually filled with public celebrations and feasts.

People rushing to buy vegetables at Wuhan Market in China, which is effectively in lockdown

Residents have been told not to travel and the streets are largely deserted, creating an eerie scene that is like something out of a Hollywood film.

Mr Lambert, who has been teaching in Wuhan for six years, told Mirror Online from his home: "It's hard to describe the feeling really, it's not like anything I've experienced before, knowing that you're in a city that is essentially a no go zone seems like something from a movie.

"At the moment I don't have any personal fears, I am doing what I can to keep myself safe.

Staff move bio-waste containers past the entrance of the Wuhan Medical Treatment Center

"My only fear is my grandmother, she is 81 and visiting me here in Wuhan, she has COPD and is very vulnerable.

"She was due to fly home next Monday, but her flight was cancelled. She has enough medication to last her another week or so, but I am worried about how I am going to get her more medication.

"However, I am in contact with the British Embassy to resolve the situation, and hopefully get her more medication or evacuate her from the city."

Mr Lambert said he left his home for the first time in days on Friday to stock up on supplies and he took a number of precautions to protect himself.

He said: "I left the house for the first time today. I had to go and get some food shopping, but as soon as I got home I wiped down all the packaging with disinfectant, threw all my clothes straight in the wash and showered.

"I was scared that I might bring something into the house that would infect my grandmother.

"Essentially I just wore my every day clothes and a mask, I just made sure that I didn't come into close contact with other people while I was out."

Describing the mood in Wuhan, he said: "The atmosphere is very sombre, Wuhan is normally a vibrant city, but I think people are starting to understand the seriousness of the situation now and only leaving house if absolutely necessary.

"The majority of restaurants, bars, entertainment centres are closed, those that are open are empty.

"Yesterday, there was a sense of panic and fear, but I think that was caused by the way the lockdown was handled.

"News about the lockdown started to trickle out around 2am in the morning, eight hours before the lockdown started, but most people were in bed at that time so essentially they only had three or four hours to prepare for it when they woke up.

"That's where the panic or fear set in for most people and that's why we saw people dashing for the supermarkets and we saw all of these scuffles.

"But I went to the supermarket today and the atmosphere as I said is very sombre now."

Mr Lambert is hoping his grandmother will be able to fly back to the UK soon, and he isn't sure if he will join her.

He said: "I am unsure about what I will do at this moment. I think I will keep an eye on the situation and listen to the advice of the Foreign Office and my employers."

About 300 to 500 Britons live in Wuhan, he said.

Mr Lambert hailed the medics who have been run off their feet working on the front line to treat infected patients and prevent the virus from spreading.

He said: "It's easy to bemoan and criticise the response from the government here in China, but this really couldn't have happened at worse time for China, and I don't think they could have contained it any better than what they have.

"People have been travelling for weeks and weeks preparing in advance for the Chinese New Year, so I want I just want to say I am with Wuhan, and I want to thank all those on the front line that are dealing with this crisis."