TWENTY-TWO areas of East Lancashire have seen an increase in positive cases of coronavirus infections, in a seven day period, according to Public Health England.

An interactive heatmap 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 December 2.

The area with the highest rise in infections was Meadowhead, Blackburn where there were 21 more cases in that period taking the total to 43 - an infection rate of 603.8 per 100,000 people.

The next highest rise was in Queens Park and Higher Croft with 16 more cases - a total of 43. There is 441.7 per 100,000.

In Audley there were nine more cases (34 in total and 394.4 per 100,000), while Colne Vivary Bridge also had nine new people who tested positive (20 in total, 335 per 100,000) and in Ramsbottom there were nine cases (24, 267.6).

Little Harwood had eight positive tests (44, 475.1), Shadsworth and Intack saw six (31, 289.3), Ewood and Fernhurst also had six (19, 247.2).

There were five more cases in Colne Waterside (12, 230.4), Bank Hall and Fulledge (26, 431.5), South Darwen and Whitehall (14, 166.5).

Meanwhile there were also rises: Three for Brierfield and Reedley (43, 456.6), Helmshore (13, 211.5) and Lammack and Revidge (34, 382.4), Two cases - Read Sabden and Chatburn (16, 212.4), Rose Hill and Burnleywood (30, 247.7), Townsend Fold and Edenfield (19, 295.7) and Nelson West (47, 512.2) and One case - Earby Salterforth (9, 145.9) and Bacup (41, 372.7).

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.