NO COVID-19 related deaths have been recorded in East Lancashire hospitals today while the number of positive cases has hit over 34,000.

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, which operates Preston Royal Hospital and South Ribble and Chorley Hospital, has recorded 12 deaths of people who tested positive for Covid-19 - four occurred on Wednesday (December 23), two on Christmas Eve, four on Christmas Day and two on Boxing Day.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, which runs Blackpool Victoria Hospital, has recorded six deaths of people who tested positive for Covid-19 today after two people died on Christmas Day, three on Boxing Day and one yesterday (December 27).

In England, a further 318 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 48,860, NHS England said on Monday.

Blackburn with Darwen has recorded 60 new cases today, taking the borough's total to 11,284 positive cases.

The highest rise came from Burnley, with 66 new cases in today's figures, meaning the area has now recorded a total of 5,944 cases.

Both Rossendale and Pendle recorded 38 new infections each, bringing the totals there to 3,924 and 5,938 respectively.

Ribble Valley recorded 33 new infections today, bringing the total number to 2,608.

Hyndburn recorded the fewest new cases today of 21, meaning a total of 4,540 people have now tested positive for COVID-19 in the borough.

In total, 35,082 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in East Lancashire since the start of the pandemic.