New figures suggest that the true death toll across the country from coronavirus is higher than reported.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for England and Wales shows there were 24 per cent more deaths relating to Covid-19 up to March 20, compared to hospital data.

A total of 210 deaths in England and Wales had Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate, compared with 170 coronavirus-related deaths reported by hospitals.

The ONS looked at all deaths where the virus was mentioned as a factor, including those in the community and care homes.

Hospital figures are of people who have tested positive for Covid-19, whilst the ONS includes all deaths where the virus is mentioned on the death certificate, even if only suspected.

The new figures show deaths from March 20 or before that were registered before March 25.

Of the 108 deaths registered before March 20 where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, 45 (or 42 per cent) were people aged 85 and over while 34 (31 per cent) were people aged 75 to 84.

A total of 21 deaths (a fifth) were people aged 65 to 74, seven (six per cent) were people aged 45 to 64.

One death was among somebody aged 15 to 44.

As of 5pm on Sunday, 1,408 people have died in hospital with the virus.