Plans for a lockdown in Malawi have been scuppered at the last minute, after a court injuction ordered it be delayed by at least seven days, lawyers say.

It was due to begin on Saturday.

The news will come as a relief to traders who have fiercely opposed a lockdown because of the serious threat they say it poses to their livelihoods.

The court challenge was brought against the government by the Human Rights Defenders Coalition, whose lawyer has told the BBC that both sides will present their cases at the High Court next Friday.

Until then the lockdown is on hold.