The number of recorded coronavirus cases in Gloucestershire increased by 242 over the last 24 hours, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 18,215 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Wednesday (January 20) in Gloucestershire, up from 17,973 the same time on Tuesday.

The health body is now including Pillar 2 tests – those carried out by commercial partners – alongside Pillar 1 tests, which are analysed in NHS or PHE laboratories and which made up the first stage of the Government's mass testing programme.

The rate of infection in Gloucestershire now stands at 2,859 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 5,432.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 38,905 over the period to 3,505,754.

Gloucestershire's cases were among the 171,562 recorded across the South West, a figure which rose by 2,377 over the period.

Cumulative case counts include patients who are currently unwell, have recovered and those that have died.