BARROW has become the country's Covid hotspot with new variants fuelling a rise in cases.

The borough is among three districts in Cumbria that feature on the top 20 list of local authorities with the highest rates of new infections.

According to data covering the seven days up to September 3, the Barrow borough had 25 new cases, a rolling infection rate of 37.5 per 100,000 people.

Meanwhile Copeland had the second rate in the time period - 36.7 - following the same number of new cases. 

The South Lakeland area had a rate of 24.8 after 26 cases.

The Eris variant is thought to be behind a rise in infections across the country.

The Covid-19 and flu vaccination programme has also started earlier than planned after another new variant of coronavirus was detected in the UK.

While the variant, known as BA.2.86, has not been classified as a 'variant of concern', scientists have said that it carries a high number of mutations and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is watching it closely.

There were 8,961 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in England in the seven days to September 3, according to the latest government data., working out at 15.8 cases for every 100,000 people in the country.

Adults in the general population who are eligible for Covid and flu vaccines – including those aged 65 and over, people in at-risk groups and the immunosuppressed – will begin to be invited by the NHS to get their jabs from next week.

These groups will be able to book their jabs from September 18 through the NHS website, the NHS App or by calling 119.

GP surgeries or other local NHS services are also contacting people to offer the vaccines.

NHS England is urging people to get both jabs to avoid a potential 'twindemic' of flu and Covid, which would put pressure on the health service.

NHS director of vaccinations and screening Steve Russell said: “The NHS flu and Covid vaccination programmes have been very effective in protecting those at greatest risk and we will work at speed to ensure they are protected once again this year, starting with care homes and those who are housebound today.

“With concerns arising over new Covid variants, it’s vital we adapt the programme and bring it forward for those most at risk, and so I strongly urge everyone eligible to come forward as soon as they can for this important protection in colder months."