The Barrow neighbourhoods worst hit by the Covid-19 pandemic have been revealed in the first annual death toll of the virus.

The data published by the Office for National Statistics shows people living in the poorest areas are more likely to die from the disease compared to those in the most affluent.

In the 12 months from March last year, 159 people in Barrow died due to Covid-19, according to the ONS figures – a rate of 223 per 100,000 people.

The peak month for deaths was April when 56 were recorded.

Across the North West, 17,370 people lost their lives to the virus – 245 deaths per 100,000 people.

The figures also show which of Barrow's 10 neighbourhoods saw the most and fewest deaths of residents over the 12-month period.

Factors behind a larger number can include the number of care homes in a particular area.

The neighbourhoods with the highest number of deaths:

1) Hawcoat and Furness Abbey – 28 deaths due to Covid-19

2) Roose – 23

3) Barrow Central – 19

The neighbourhoods with the fewest number of deaths:

1) Askam and Dalton North – 6

2) Parkside – 10

3) Abbotsmead and Salthouse –12

3) Dalton South –12

The most deprived areas across England had death rates related to Covid-19 of more than double that of the most affluent parts – 331 per 100,000 compared to 137 over the 12-month period from March last year.

Crowded living conditions and low-paid jobs are among the factors, claim the Institute of Health Equity, which says lives could have been saved if better safety measures were imposed.

The IHE said those in deprived areas were more likely to be a key or low-paid economy worker, meaning they were less able to work from home and were at greater risk to infection.

A spokesperson for the Department for Health and Social Care: "We know this pandemic has caused financial hardship for many people across the country, and we have acted decisively to make sure nobody is left behind, with extensive support for people on low-pay to help them through this period."