BURNLEY now has the highest rolling seven-day rate of new coronavirus cases in the country.

Figures show that 228 new cases were recorded in the town in the seven days to September 23 - the equivalent of 256.4 per 100,000 people.

The rate is up from 233.9 yesterday and significantly higher than it was in the seven days up to September 16, which was 145.1.

Liverpool has the second highest rate, up from 131.1 to 243.8 with 1,214 new cases.

And Knowsley is in third place, where the rate has risen from 132.6 to 241.9, with 365 new cases.

Then comes Bolton, which has fallen slightly in the last day from a rate of 242.0 to 235.1.

Blackburn with Darwen has the 10th highest rate in the country with 193.1 after 289 cases were confirmed in the last week.

Pendle sits in eight place.

Other areas recording sharp increases in their seven-day rates include:

- Newcastle upon Tyne (up from 87.2 to 228.8, with 693 new cases)

- Pendle (up from 97.7 to 203.0 with 187 new cases)

- Sunderland (up from 78.9 to 180.0, with 500 new cases)

- Halton (up from 125.2 to 214.0 with 277 new cases)

- Sefton (up from 74.2 to 162.8, with 450 new cases)

The list has been calculated by the PA news agency and is based on Public Health England data published on September 26 on the Government's coronavirus dashboard.

The figures, for the seven days to September 23, are based on tests carried out in laboratories (pillar one of the Government's testing programme) and in the wider community (pillar two).

The rate is expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people.

Data for the most recent three days (September 24-26) has been excluded as it is incomplete and likely to be revised.

Here is the top 10 places from the list. From left to right, it reads: name of local authority; rate of new cases in the seven days to September 23; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to September 23; rate of new cases in the seven days to September 16; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to September 16.

Burnley 256.4 (228), 145.1 (129)

Liverpool 243.8 (1214), 131.1 (653)

Knowsley 241.9 (365), 132.6 (200)

Bolton 235.1 (676), 199.6 (574)

Newcastle upon Tyne 228.8 (693), 87.2 (264)

Halton 214.0 (277), 125.2 (162)

South Tyneside 210.0 (317), 129.8 (196)

Pendle 203.0 (187), 97.7 (90)

Bury 193.2 (369), 132.5 (253)

Blackburn with Darwen 193.1 (289), 128.3 (192)