SEVEN areas have the highest rate of coronavirus infection in East Lancashire, in the last seven days, according to Public Health England.

An interactive heatmap on the Government website reflecting the growth of the virus in neighbourhoods across the county has been produced by the government.

The data shows the number of cases reported in a seven-day period up to November 25.

The area with the highest rate is Central Burnley and Danehouse with 736.8 per 100,000 cases. It too saw the biggest number of cases which was 76 – down by 17 on the previous week.

Second on the list was Bastwell in Blackburn where the rate was 547.4 and they had 41 cases, which was down by 23 on the previous seven days.

Brierfield and Reedley was next with 422.9. There were 40 cases which was up by two.

Accrington West had a rate of 415.9 but they had the second highest number of cases in East Lancashire with 53, even though that figure was down by 34.

Barnoldswick South had the same infection rate but had 23 cases - down by eight.

The next worst affected neighbourhood was Rawtenstall with 412 per 100,000 and 37 cases, which had risen by five on the previous week.

Church was seventh on the list with an infection rate of 406.4 and there were 21 new cases which was down by eight.

Public Health England breaks down the numbers of coronavirus cases into neighbourhoods called 'Middle Super Output Areas' (MSOAs), which are smaller than council wards and based on population rather than geographical area.

The highest numbers of cases in East Lancashire were Central Burnley and Danehouse (76), Accrington West (53), Bastwell (41), Bacup (41 - down 15), Brierfield and Reedley (40), Rawtenstall (37), Accrington NE (32 - down 43), Waterfoot and Stacksteads (32 - down 6), Clitheroe N (31 - up 13) and Barrowford, Higham and Pendleside (30 - up 14).