The number of recorded coronavirus cases in Dorset increased by 21 over a 24-hour period, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 699 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Tuesday in the Dorset Council area, up by nine from 690 the same time on Monday.

The rate of infection in the Dorset Council area now stands at 185 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 537.

There were 12 new cases confirmed in the Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole (BCP) Council area taking the total to 957.

The rate of infection in the BCP area now stands at 242.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 2,420 over the period, to 352,520.

Yesterday's figures exclude Northern Ireland, which did not submit data to Public Health England.

Dorset's cases were among the 15,308 recorded across the South West, a figure which rose by 103 over the period.

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

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.