Stroud has the highest rate of Covid-19 infections in the South west, according to the latest figures released by Public Health England.

The district recorded 21 new infections per 100,000 people in the seven days ending on May 15, up 91 per cent from the week before, though considerably less than during the third lockdown.

The data does not take into account changes to lockdown rules made on May 17, which saw people allowed to socialize indoors again and much of the hospitality industry open up.

The rate of cases in Stroud is more than double the rates in 11 of the 16 other reporting areas in the South West, which have all dropped to single figures.

Tewkesbury recorded the lowest case rate, with only three cases per 100,000, followed by South Somerset with four and Cheltenham, Mendip and Dorset with 5.

Swindon recorded the second highest infection rate with 19 cases per 100,000 and though Sedgemoor recorded the third highest, 16, it almost halved its cases per 100,000 from 29.

Stroud was one of only four areas in the South West to report an increase in Covid case rates, joined by Bristol, the Cotswolds, the Forest of Dean, and Bath and North East Somerset.