Spain has changed its Covid-19 travel rules for children just days before the half term break.

Children aged 12 to 17 from the UK who have not yet had two coronavirus vaccines will now be allowed into the country providing that they can show a negative PCR test.

Currently everyone over the age of 12 has to be double-jabbed to enter the country - with reports that the strict rule had forced some families hoping to visit Spain or the Canary Islands to cancel their upcoming February half term trips because their children hadn't yet had enough vaccinations.

But in an announcement today, Spain's Secretary of State for tourism says it would welcome youngsters from the UK without two jabs providing they had received a negative PCR test that had been taken within 72 hours of travel.

The new rule comes into force on Monday - just in time for the majority of the country's February half term holiday.

Entry requirements however have not changed for adults over the age of 18 who will still need to prove they've had two Covid jabs to get into Spain.

Spain's relaxation of restrictions for children is one of a number of new Covid travel rules coming into force in time for the school holidays and as part of efforts to make worldwide travel easier as countries attempt to recover from the pandemic.

Fully vaccinated travellers coming into the UK no longer need to take a post-arrival lateral flow test, passenger locator forms are set to be simplified while the Covid pass has now gone digital for children aged 12 and above.

While the UK does not require people to prove their vaccination status in the majority of settings any longer since Plan B restrictions were scaled back, many other countries in Europe require even younger family members to be able to display their current Covid status.

Up until now families heading abroad could request a PDF version of their child's vaccination status or request a letter from the NHS detailing their vaccinations - which officials had warned could take up to 10 days to arrive.

But in order to make travel easier for families as people look to make plans for both the February and Easter holidays, children aged 12 to 15 who have been vaccinated against coronavirus can now download their own Covid digital pass.

The pass will also be able to show proof of prior infection in order to help families access venues, or services, including museums, restaurants and cafes in countries that demand them for entry.

Parents needing to download the Covid pass for their offspring should do so in the same way that they access their own proof of vaccination - via the NHS app.