Covid: Book reveals how modern civilisation came to a halt in Italy's ancient city

• Video report from ITV News Europe Editor James Mates

Almost a year ago, Whitbread prize-winning novelist Mathew Kneale felt the on the very first morning of Italy's coronavirus lockdown would be momentous.

He tapped out an email to his friends - and so began daily updates from his house in Rome. These eventually became his latest book, The Rome Plague Diaries.

Through both words and pictures, the novel documents how modern civilisation came to a halt in Italy's ancient capital.

• Friends stuck in Florence Covid-19 quarantine for two months return to UK

• Why are Italians refusing the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine?

• War Horse author Sir Michael Morpurgo on woke culture and why we should cheer for our teachers