The UK's week in pictures: Omicron, Sir Lewis Hamilton, and North Shropshire by-election

'The National' selects the most striking pictures from around the UK over the past week

On Monday long queues began to form as people rushed to receive their booster jabs at Sevenoaks Pharmacy in Kent. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had on Sunday night declared an 'Omicron emergency'. PA

Boris Johnson visited Stow Health Vaccination centre in Westminster on Monday. The government announced it was accelerating its Covid-19 booster programme due to concerns about the Omicron variant. Getty Images

Chessington World of Adventures released images of a three-week-old rare Colombian spider monkey on Monday, called Cranberry, as the zoo, in south-west London, welcomed three baby monkeys. PA

Tuesday morning saw the Royal Liver Buildings surrounded by fog in Liverpool. PA

People wait to be vaccinated at a Covid-19 vaccination centre in Ramsgate, Kent, on Tuesday, as the coronavirus booster vaccination programme continued. PA

People queue at a Covid-19 vaccination centre in Bristol, south-west England on Tuesday. PA

Singer Rod Stewart performed at a Christmas carol service raising funds for Music Therapy Charity, Nordoff Robbins at St Luke's Church, in London on Tuesday evening. PA

British racing driver Lewis Hamilton received a knighthood during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Wednesday. PA

Soldiers of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers administering booster vaccines at Chester Cathedral on Wednesday. Getty Images

On Wednesday afternoon, Big Ben was pictured with it's scaffolding starting to come down in London, with the clock hands seen restored to the original Prussian blue. EPA

Equestrian performer Santi Serra goes through his routine with his four Arab horses on Wednesday, ahead the London International Horse Show at ExCel London. PA

Brussels sprouts are harvested on Thursday morning, as workers prepared for the busy Christmas period at TH Clements vegetable growers near Boston in Lincolnshire. PA

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited an NHS Covid-19 vaccination centre near Ramsgate, Kent, on Thursday, as the UK reported it's highest number of Covid-19 infections. AFP

Helen Morgan of the Liberal Democrats won the North Shropshire by-election early on Friday morning, with a majority of almost 6,000 votes. Ms Morgan said that voters had sent a clear message to Prime Minister Boris Johnson that the 'party is over'. Getty Images

London Fire Brigade deputy commissioner Richard Mills spoke to the media at the scene of a house fire in Sutton, south London, on Friday morning. Four children died. PA

This week, the UK recorded the highest daily Covid-19 infections total since the start of pandemic, as the Omicron variant spread, Formula One star Lewis Hamilton received a knighthood, and the Liberal Democrats won the North Shropshire by-election, in shock result for Prime Minister Boris Johnson.