FEWER than 10 coronavirus cases were confirmed in Dorset over the last 24 hours, latest figures have revealed.

Data released by the government shows nine cases were recorded across the county in the 24 hours leading up to 4pm on Wednesday.

The BCP Council area recorded six cases, taking the total since the start of the pandemic to 25,315.

In the seven days leading up to April 23, the latest rolling seven-day period, 57 cases were recorded in BCP, giving a rolling infection rate of 14.4 per 100,000 people.

Three new cases were confirmed in the Dorset Council area, taking the total to 11,871.

The rolling infection rate for the council area was 12.7 per 100,000 with 48 cases confirmed in a week.

Elsewhere, four cases were confirmed in the New Forest, taking the total to 6,187.

The rolling infection rate stood at 13.3 after 24 cases were recorded in the week preceding April 23.

In the UK, 2,166 new cases of the Covid-19 virus have been recorded, taking the total number of positive cases across the UK to 4,411,797.