Vitamin D is vital for good health, working to regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. The nutrients are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy and a lack of the vitamin can lead to bone deformities such as rickets in children, and bone pain caused by a condition called osteomalacia in adults.

Experts ranging from the late Dr Michael Mosley to the NHS say most people struggle to get enough of the essential nutrient during the colder weather and darker nights. Current government advice is that everyone should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter.

It is thought that about one in six people currently take a daily dose of the nutrient known as the "sunshine vitamin". And the NHS advises more people should be taking it with those at risk of not getting enough including all children aged one to four, and all babies unless they're having more than 500ml of infant formula a day.

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