The number of people to die from coronavirus in East Lancashire care homes has doubled in the past month, new data has revealed.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics shows that at the beginning of May a total of 29 people had suspected or confirmed coronavirus on their death certificates - but that has now risen to 59.

The two areas most affected in the east of the county are Hyndburn and Pendle, both with 13 care home deaths since the start of the outbreak.

To date, Blackburn with Darwen is one of the least affected areas with eight coronavirus deaths in care homes, while the Ribble Valley has had just three.

Burnley care homes have suffered 10 virus-related deaths in the past few months, and 12 residents have died from the virus in care homes across Rossendale.

The number of deaths from the virus across Lancashire has reached 886 - an increase of six in the past 24 hours.

In March, visits to the vast majority of care homes were stopped in an attempt to prevent an outbreak, but it was later confirmed that recent coronavirus patients were being discharged from nearby hospitals and into the buildings, which is widely believed to have enabled the virus to spread rapidly across the sector.

A review into how the virus has disproportionately affected certain groups, published today, found that people aged 80 and over were 70 times more likely to die from the infection.