AN East Lancashire borough has the highest coronavirus infection rate in the country – with cases rapidly growing in another part of the county.

Both Hyndburn and Blackburn with Darwen are recording some of the highest week-on-week rises in new cases, with the infection rate in Hyndburn higher than anywhere else in England.

The figures, for the seven days to April 30, 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.

The rate is expressed as the number of new cases per 100,000 people.

Of the 315 local areas in England, 103 (33 per cent) have seen a rise in rates, 195 (62 per cent) have seen a fall and 17 are unchanged.

Hyndburn currently has the highest rate, with 124 new cases in the seven days to April 30 – the equivalent of 153.0 cases per 100,000 people. This is up from 38.3 in the seven days to April 23.

The increase in the borough's infection rate comes after three year groups from Mount Carmel High School were last week forced back into working from home after an outbreak spread through the school.

Mobile coronavirus testing units were sent to the school by Public Health England after students from years 7, 8 and 9 were told they were not to attend classes.

Multiple sources told the Lancashire Telegraph at the time that as many as 50 pupils and staff had contracted the virus.

Bolton has the second highest rate, up from 46.3 to 73.4, with 211 new cases.

North Lincolnshire has the third highest, up from 64.4 to 71.4, with 123 new cases.

Meanwhile Blackburn with Darwen has recorded the 5th highest week-on-week rise in the cases, growing from 33.4 cases per 100,000 people to 51.4.

Rates have also risen in Burnley (from 27.0 to 29.2) and in Pendle (19.5 to 28.2) Meanwhile in Rossendale and the Ribble Valley, rates continue to fall.