The deputy prime minister will take over the home secretary's counter-terrorism and resilience brief while David Blunkett recovers from surgery.

John Prescott is to cover the key responsibility over the Christmas period following a Home Office statement revealing that Blunkett had undergone surgery.

The three Home Office ministers will take over day-to-day running of the department.

An official statement released on Monday said Blunkett had undergone surgery on Sunday for a "long-standing problem relating to his oesophagus and stomach".

No further details were given other than the surgery was "preventative" and Blunkett has been given a clean bill of health for the future.

The procedure was carried out at an NHS at a hospital in Yorkshire and doctors say the home secretary is recovering well.

Blunkett, who is 55, is being regularly briefed by his officials and will return to full work after Christmas.