SEVEN more people have died in East Lancashire hospitals as the UK passed 60,000 Covid-19 related deaths.

Two of the deaths were recorded yesterday (December 2) and five on Tuesday in the trust's hospitals which include Royal Blackburn Hospital and Burnley General.

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 486 deaths in East Lancashire hospitals, while the country has now seen 60,113 Covid-19 related deaths.

In Blackburn with Darwen, 42 people have tested positive today meaning there have now been a total of 9,812 cases in the borough. In Hyndburn, 3,869 people have now tested positive after 22 new cases were reported today while in Burnley, 37 people were positive with the virus today, taking the towns total to 4,704.

Rossendale recorded 31 cases today taking their total number of cases to 3,352, while Pendle saw a the highest daily rise as a further 51 people have tested positive meaning there have been a total of 4,864 cases in the borough.

Ribble Valley have recorded 8 cases today, meaning it remains to be the least hit area in East Lancashire with 2,048 total cases since March.

Four other deaths were recorded in the county, one in Blackpool Teaching Hospitals and three in Lancashire Teaching Hospitals.

The death at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, which runs Blackpool Victoria Hospital, occurred on Tuesday (December 1).

In Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, which operate Royal Preston Hospital and Chorley and South Ribble Hospital, one death occurred on Tuesday, one on Monday and one on Sunday.

This news comes as data shows that 234 were being treated in East Lancashire hospitals for Covid-19 by 8am on November 24 - up from 229 on the same day the previous week.