Redditch has seen the second biggest rise in Coronavirus cases in the whole of England, latest figures have revealed.

In the seven days leading up to January 17, 589 people tested positive for Covid-19 in Redditch (equivalent to 690.8 cases per 100,000 people) - compared to 527 (a rate of 618.1) the week before.

The only place to record a bigger week on week increase in England was Erewash, in Derbyshire.

The increase means Redditch now has the 35th highest Covid-19 rate in England, out of 315 local authority areas, and has overtaken Worcester to have the highest rate in Worcestershire.

Worcester recorded 682 positive tests, compared to 751 the week before - meaning the rate there fell from 741.9 to 673.8, but still giving it the 42nd highest rate in England.

Elsewhere in Bromsgrove positive cases fell from 698 to 544, a rate of 544.6 putting it 80th on the list of local authority areas.

Wyre Forest was much further down after the number of positive cases fell from 491 to 390 (a rate reduction from 484.7 to 385)

The figures published today are the latest available from Public Health England and are based on tests carried out in laboratories and in the wider community

They show of the 315 local areas in England, 31 (10%) have seen a rise in case rates, 283 (90%) have seen a fall and one is unchanged.

Knowsley in Merseyside continues to have the highest rate in England, with 1,612 new cases recorded in the seven days to January 17 – the equivalent of 1,068.5 cases per 100,000 people.

Slough in Berkshire has the second highest rate, down from 1,093.4 to 981.7, with 1,468 new cases.

Sandwell in the West Midlands is in third place, down from 951.1 to 920.4, with 3,023 new cases.