London, May 6 (IANS) Professor Neil Ferguson has quit his role as a government adviser after breaking social distancing rules.

"I accept I made an error of judgement and took the wrong course of action," Prof Ferguson of Imperial College London said, the BBC reported.

"I have therefore stepped back from my involvement in Sage," he said referring to the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies.

"I deeply regret any undermining of the clear messages around the continued need for social distancing to control this devastating epidemic."

Prof Ferguson was instrumental in persuading the UK government to impose a lockdown last month.

--IANS rt/