LATEST figures show that Thurrock is now one of the areas in the country most affected by Covid-19.

Newly-published statistics show that the number of cases per 100,000 people in the borough has shot up to 678. The average area in England currently has 172. The new numbers mean Thurrock has the fifth highest figure in the country - Basildon is the second highest with 765 cases per 100,000 people.

In the last full week there were 1,182 new cases, 688 up on the previous week and in total - up to today (17 December) there have been 5,148 confirmed cases in the borough.

There have been 226 coronavirus-related deaths registered.