The number of people occupying hospital beds with coronavirus in Bolton has nearly doubled, according to the latest data.

The amount of Covid-19 patients at the Royal Bolton Hospital has increased significantly in July.

As of July 6, the latest data available, the NHS said there were 46 people being treated for coronavirus at the hospital, as the number of positive cases in the town continued to increase.

As recently as June 28, 25 patients were being treated at the hospital, with the number of people in hospital beds increasing significantly in recent weeks.

This coincides with the number of new positive cases increasing in the town again, according to Public Health England.

In the seven days to July 8, Bolton recorded 931 new positive cases of Covid-19, equalling an infection rate of 323.8 cases per 100,000 residents.

This is an increase from the previous seven days, to July 1, where the town recorded an infection rate of 306.7 cases per 100,000 residents.

However, the current number of patients is still far lower than previous waves of the pandemic.

In November last year and January this year, up to as many as 150 people were being treated for coronavirus at the borough's hospital.