UK official coronavirus death toll up by 9 as cases rise by 2,621

The UK's coronavirus death count has shot up by nine as cases continue to rocket.

Some 2,621 new Covid-19 cases have also been reported in the past day.

It comes after 3,300 cases were recorded yesterday, with five new deaths announced.

A steady increase in infections has prompted the government to ban gatherings of more than six people in England.

The new 'rule of six' measure comes into force today.

Alarming figures show the new Covid-19 hotspots across the country as one area saw cases shoot up almost fivefold.

Oadby and Wigston, in Leicestershire, has seen its infection rate soar from 24.6 to 114.0 per 100,000 cases in just seven days.

It is now England's fourth worst area, one place behind Hyndburn in Lancashire, where new infections have more than doubled.

Warrington, the sixth worst-affected place, has seen new cases treble in a week, while new cases in Knowsley are close to three times higher than they were a week ago.

Sunderland, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Sandwell, Wolverhampton and Leeds have also seen large increases, as scientists warn Britain is on the cusp of a second wave.

Of the 30 places with highest infection rates, just two - Pendle and Rossendale - have seen the number of cases fall in a week.

There are currently 248 places with rates of more than 10 new cases per 100,000 - listed below - of which 193 have recorded an increase in seven days.

Bolton and Blackburn with Darwen are at the top of the Public Health England list, having each seen a large increase in cases.

Yesterday the government announced that a further 3,330 people had tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the number of confirmed infections since the start of the pandemic to 368,504.

At the weekend Sir Mark Walport, the former chief scientific adviser, claimed the country was “on the edge of losing control” of the virus, as he urged people to work from home if they could.

It comes as the so-called "rule-of-six" is set to come into place today.

Under the new measures, groups of more than six people cannot meet socially - with some exemptions.

Britons will be slapped with fines of £100 if they meet in groups of more than six people, indoors or out, and double that for each repeat offence up to £3,200.

Weddings and funerals will be exempt but must remain limited to 30 people, while organised sports events can take place provided it is compliant with  coronavirus  guidance and a full risk assessment has been carried out.