CORONAVIRUS infection rates for Bury are on the way down, it has emerged.

Public Health England has released the latest number of cases per 100,000 people.

And Bury, from a rate of 192.7, or 368 cases, for the seven days to September 21, has now dropped to 173.3, or 331 cases, for the week to September 28.

The borough is no longer in the national top 10 for rates but is still in 'red alert' territory, like other Greater Manchester areas.

The figures are based on tests carried out in laboratories (pillar one of the Government's testing programme) and in the wider community (pillar two).

Cases in Bolton are also on the slide from a rate of 234, or 673 cases, to 190.6, or 548 cases.

Burnley continues to have the highest rate in England, with 302 new cases recorded in the seven days to September 28 - the equivalent of 339.6 cases per 100,000 people.

This is up sharply from 219.3 per 100,000 in the seven days to September 21.

Liverpool has the second highest rate, up from 215.2 to 278.5, with 1,387 new cases.

And Knowsley is in third place, where the rate has increased from 227.4 to 273.8, with 413 new cases.

Other areas recording sharp increases in their seven-day rates include Manchester (up from 178.0 to 259.9, with 1,437 new cases); Newcastle upon Tyne (up from 195.2 to 247.7, with 750 new cases); and St Helens (up from 133.5 to 221.5, with 400 new cases).