CORONAVIRUS infection rates in some of the worst-affected communities in England have soared, despite increased lockdown measures designed to slow its spread, analysis has suggested.

Areas in the north west are among those to see several-fold increases in their seven-day rate of new Covid-19 cases, even where people have been ordered to limit the number of people they socialise with.

Analysis of Public Health England data by the PA news agency suggests communities such as Blackburn with Darwen, Rochdale and Pendle all continue to have infection rates well in excess of the national average, several weeks after tailored restrictions were introduced.

In Leicester, which is due to mark 100 days since local lockdown restrictions were first introduced next week, the infection rate remains more than double the average for the UK, despite dropping to its lowest level last month.

The east Midlands city was the first to be issued with specific rules back in June 30 amid a spike in cases in the city.

At the time, authorities reported a rolling seven-day infection rate of 132.4 cases per 100,000 people, well above the UK-wide rate of 9.1.

Leicester’s rate dropped to 25.4 cases by August 31, almost twice the UK’s rate of 13.9.

But it had more than doubled by the end of that week, and has been higher than 100 cases per 100,000 people since September 18.

In Pendle, the rolling rate of infection is now at 218.2 cases, roughly six and a half times the figure of 33.7 when restrictions were introduced on July 17.

Tailored restrictions were introduced across several communities in the north of England on July 30, yet the data suggests infections continue to rise.

In Rochdale, the rate of 30.6 cases remained below 50 until early September.

It is currently at 176.7, more than three times the nationwide rate of 52.0.

Similarly, in Blackburn with Darwen, the rate of 81.5 when specific restrictions were imposed has risen as high as 211.1 in the last week.

Curbs on socialising and the hospitality industry came into force in Bolton on September 8 when the rolling rate was at 198.6 new cases per day.

Yet the rate has been higher every day since, with the exception of two days, and currently stands at 238.9.

The rolling infection rate has more than tripled since new measures were introduced in Oldham last month.

The town introduced fresh restrictions on households mixing and advised people against all-but-essential travel from August 22 when the infection rate was 60.3 cases per 100,000 people.

But the rate has not dropped below 100 since before September 10, with latest figures putting it at 182.6.

To the west, the city of Preston has more than quadrupled its rolling case rate in the last seven weeks, despite restrictions on socialising which came into force last month.

The latest figures show the seven-day rate is 190.0, up from 44.0 on August 8.