NINE more people have died after testing positive for coronavirus at Royal Bolton Hospital, according to latest figures.

NHS England statistics now show 281 people have died at the hospital after testing positive for Covid-19 in the last 28 days.

The data confirms that one person died yesterday, two people lost their lives on Sunday, two on Saturday, three on Friday, and one person on Tuesday, October 20.

Meanwhile, Bolton now has the 7th highest infection rate in the country.

In the seven days leading up to October 22, 1,548 tested positive for coronavirus across the borough.

This brings the borough’s infection rate per 100,000 people up to 538.3.

Blackburn with Darwen has by far the highest infection rate per 100,000 of population with 766.2 per 100,000.

Knowsley and Wigan both have a rate of just over 609 per 100,000 with Rochdale, Salford, and Barnsley above Bolton with an infection rate of over 550 per 100,000.

The Government said a further 367 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 across the UK as of today, the highest daily figure since May 27.