ONE town in Herefordshire has Covid infection rates which are more than double the UK average, latest figures show.

In the seven days to Wednesday, November 3, a UK Government heatmap showed the areas in Herefordshire with the highest number of new Covid cases.

Current coronavirus hotspots in the county, those with the highest infection rates, include Leominster North and South.

In these areas, the infection rates – the number of cases per 100,000 people – were both more than double the national average of 376.

The infection rate for Leominster North was 1,139.4 for the week to November 11, which is the latest data available. That was up from 561.4 the week before.

For Leominster South, the rate was 883.8, up from 426.1.

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The map breaks Herefordshire down into 23 sections known as middle super output areas.

These are used to try and improve the reporting of small area statistics, with an average population over around 7,200 people in England and Wales.

In total, Herefordshire reported 785 cases in the seven days to November 11, giving it a infection rate of 405.4 cases per 100,000 people.

That was 25 fewer cases than the week before, when the infection rate was 418.4.

Despite the slight drop across the county as a whole, cases are still rising in Leominster North; Leominster South; Hereford West; Ledbury; Kington, Eardisley and Staunton; Golden Valley; Fownhope, Tarrington and Marcle; Wigmore, Orleton and Brimfield; Hereford South; and Lugwardine, Withington and Moreton-on-Lugg.

Seven–day rates are expressed per 100,000 population and are calculated by dividing the seven day count by the area population and multiplying by 100,000. This helps when comparing rates across the county.

It came after children and their parents in Herefordshire were warned that schools may have to make "tough decisions" to control Covid.

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Herefordshire's public health and education bosses said they could also tell schools to cancel traditional Christmas activities at short notice.

In a letter to parents, carers and guardians, the chiefs said some schools might already have made the decision to not go ahead with traditions such as nativities.

Assistant director for education development and skills Ceri Morgan and acting director for public health in Herefordshire Rebecca Howell-Jones also said any extra measures to keep Covid at bay should be followed.