NINE people have died with coronavirus in Dorset hospitals over the past 24 hour period, official figures show.

Eight new coronavirus deaths have been recorded at the newly-formed University Hospitals Dorset NHS Trust in the latest 24-hour period according to NHS England.

It brings the total to 299 deaths as of 5pm on Wednesday (January 6) - an increase of eight compared to Tuesday, when there were 291.

Meanwhile one new coronavirus death has been recorded at Dorset Trust in the latest 24-hour period.

NHS England figures show 34 people had died in hospital at Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Wednesday (January 6).

That was an increase of one compared to Tuesday, when there were 33.

It means there have been two deaths in the past week. The previous week there were no new deaths recorded.

The victims were among 2,518 deaths recorded across the South West.

Daily death counts are revised each day, with each case backdated to the actual date of death.

This means some of the deaths that were first recorded in the latest period may actually have taken place days earlier.

NHS England guidance states: "Confirmation of Covid-19 diagnosis, death notification and reporting in central figures can take up to several days and the hospitals providing the data are under significant operational pressure."

Only deaths that occur in hospitals where the patient has tested positive for Covid-19 are recorded, with deaths in the community excluded, such as those in care homes.