Covid infection rates in North West Leicestershire are among the highest in the country, according to weekend figures.

BBC East Midlands reports that half of the 10 local authorities with the highest rates in England are in Leicestershire.

The number of infections per 100,000 people in the week, up to Saturday, September 11, was 593 in North West Leicestershire, up from 469 the previous week and behind only Corby's rate of 676.

Hinckley and Bosworth has the fourth highest rate with 560, representing a steep increase on 449 from the previous seven-day period, while Blaby (538), Charnwood (478) and Oadby and Wigston (476) also feature highly.

Mike Sandys, director of public health for Leicestershire, says schools in the county going back early may have contributed to the rise.

He said: "I think there are some reasons as to why we are so high at the top of the table at the moment and that is to do with the schools going back early.

"We've got particularly high rates in the 11-16 age group at the moment."