THE ExCel centre’s wealthy owners U-turned on its plans to charge the NHS millions to turn the exhibition space into a 4,000-bed field hospital.

The Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (Adnec) had been reported to be charging £2 million to £3 million a month for use of the centre during the coronavirus crisis.

Adnec boss Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri said the deal with the health service had included some contributions to costs, but “we have since decided to cover the fixed costs ourselves.”