The number of coronavirus cases and people hospitalised with the virus in Oldham has continued to rise.

The latest data released by the Office for National Statistics shows that 146 people in the town tested positive yesterday, which was up from 137 on Tuesday.

The figures mean that there have been 789 positive tests over the past seven days, which is an increase of 45.8% from the week before this.

There were three deaths recorded yesterday which came within 28 days of having Covid, however this puts the weekly figure at nine which represents a 50% fall week on week.

The latest figures for hospital admissions to the Pennine Acute Hospitals are available up until January 2 and show that 16 people were admitted on that day with the weekly figure at 129 which was an increase of 25.5%.

The figures mean 463 people in Oldham have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid and 520 have died with the virus listed as the cause of death on their birth certificate.

The infection rate in the town centre is reported at 201.1 per 100,000 people, which means it is around average for the UK.

The country was placed into national lockdown earlier this week because of the new strain of the virus which scientists state is more transmissible than earlier forms.

Though it emerged in the south east of the country there are fears it has spread to other areas.

The soaring rates of infection and hospitalisation in Oldham will cause fear it has emerged in the north west.

While the new strain is understood to have the possibility to raise the R rate by 0.4 this is still believed to be between 0.9 and 1.1 in Oldham.