South Gloucestershire have cut the rate of new Covid-19 infections by almost 60 per cent, according to the latest figures released by Public Health England.

The area, which covers Yate, Thornbury, Dursley, Cam, Wotton and more recorded just seven new infections per 100,000 people in the seven days ending on May 15, down from 17 the week before.

The data does not take into account changes to lockdown rules made on May 17, which saw people allowed to socialize indoors again and much of the hospitality industry fully open up.

South Gloucestershire is one of 11 reporting areas in the South West which have dropped to single figure case rates.

Tewkesbury recorded the lowest case rate, with only three cases per 100,000, followed by South Somerset with four and Cheltenham, Mendip and Dorset with 5.

Stroud recorded the highest rate of new infections with 21 per 100,000 people and Swindon recorded the second highest infection rate with 19.

Though Sedgemoor recorded the third highest, 16, it almost halved its cases per 100,000 from 29.

Four areas in the South Westreported an increase in Covid case rates; Stroud, Bristol, the Cotswolds, the Forest of Dean, and Bath and North East Somerset.