COVID-19 cases are rocketing in Hereforshire's neighbouring county.

They have almost doubled in the districts of Worcester and Wychavon, and nearly trebled in Malvern Hills, according to the latest seven-day statistics.

The figures, for the seven days to June 18, are based on the number of people who have tested positive for Covid-19 in either a lab-reported or rapid lateral flow test, by specimen date.

Data for June 19-22 is incomplete and does not reflect the true number of cases.

Of the 315 local areas in England, 269 (85 per cent), including Bromsgrove, Worcester, Malvern Wyre Forest and Wychavon have seen a rise in rates, while 42 (13 per cent), including Redditch, have seen a fall. Four are unchanged.

Worcester Town South, covering much of the city centre and up London Road, is the worst-hit area on the Worcester City Council patch as things stand with seven confirmed cases.

Hereford Times:

All areas of Worcestershire are still significantly behind the highest, which despite a drop in cases remains Blackburn with Darwen, but the region is starting to pull away from the areas with very low rates of infection.

From left to right, it reads: name of local authority; rate of new cases in the seven days to June 18; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to June 18; rate of new cases in the seven days to June 11; number (in brackets) of new cases recorded in the seven days to June 11.

Blackburn with Darwen, 518.4, (776), 595.9, (892)

Bromsgrove, 68.1, (68), 51.1, (51)

Worcester, 40.5, (41), 22.7, (23)

Malvern Hills, 33.0, (26), 11.4, (9)

Wyre Forest, 31.6, (32), 18.8, (19)

Wychavon, 28.6, (37), 14.7, (19)

Redditch, 23.5, (20), 34.0, (29)

Great Yarmouth, 5.0, (5), 10.1, (10)

The five areas with the biggest week-on-week rises are:

Newcastle upon Tyne (up from 130.4 to 263.9)

Darlington (30.9 to 151.7)

Harborough (36.2 to 154.6)

County Durham (80.9 to 193.7)

Chorley (227.5 to 337.5)