The number of recorded coronavirus cases in Gloucestershire increased by 179 over the last 24 hours, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 6,758 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Thursday in Gloucestershire, up from 6,579 the same time on Wednesday.

The health body is now including Pillar 2 tests – those carried out by commercial partners – alongside Pillar 1 tests, which are analysed in NHS or PHE laboratories and which made up the first stage of the Government's mass testing programme.

The rate of infection in Gloucestershire now stands at 1,061 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 2,220.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 22,915 over the period to 1,453,256.

Gloucestershire's cases were among the 70,175 recorded across the South West, a figure which rose by 1,538 over the period.

Cumulative case counts include patients who are currently unwell, have recovered and those that have died.