The number of recorded coronavirus cases in Dorset increased by 56 over the last 24 hours, official figures show.

It was the first time in several days fewer than 100 cases were reported in a 24-hour period.

There were 25 new cases reported in the Dorset Council area and 31 in the Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole (BCP) area.

Public Health England figures show that 1,177 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Friday (October 16) in Dorset, up from 1,152 the same time on Thursday and 2,155 in the BCP region, up from 2,124.

The rate of infection in Dorset now stands at 311 cases per 100,000 people and 545 in the BCP area, far lower than the England average of 1,039.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 15,635 over the period, to 689,257.

Dorset's cases were among the 26,378 recorded across the South West, a figure which rose by 577 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.