A photograph of Boris Johnson holding a beer at his birthday is among hundreds that police are examining in their investigation into Downing Street parties during lockdown, it has been claimed.

The Prime Minister is pictured next to Rishi Sunak in Number 10’s Cabinet Room, The Mirror reported.

Sources told the newspaper that Mr Johnson is raising his Estrella can in a toast, while the Chancellor is holding a soft drink.

It is thought that the image was taken by Andrew Parsons, Mr Johnson’s official photographer.

Downing Street has admitted that the party on June 19 2020, a surprise allegedly organised by Carrie Johnson, took place, but insist that the Prime Minister stayed for only 10 minutes as staff gathered “briefly”.

At the time, social gatherings indoors were barred under the Government’s Covid rules and people were only allowed to meet outside in groups of up to six. Pubs and restaurants were shut.

The party gained infamy after it was claimed Mr Johnson was “ambushed” by a birthday cake, which he denies.

Conor Burns, the Northern Ireland minister, told Channel 4 News in comments that were later ridiculed on social media: “As far as I can see, he was in a sense, ambushed with a cake.”