Alarming figures show coronavirus infection rates have increased in most London boroughs.

Twenty-four of the capital’s 32 boroughs have higher infection rates in the past seven days than they did the week prior, figures from Public Health England show.

In Waltham Forest, the number of lab-confirmed cases has almost doubled, rising to 35 cases recorded in the seven days to August 15 (the latest available data), a rate of 12.6 per 100,000 people.

The seven days prior to August 8, the borough recorded 19 cases, at a rate of 6.9 per 100,000.

Richmond upon Thames has the worst infection rate, 19.2 (38 cases), almost quadruple the rate of 5.1 recorded the week prior.

In Hillingdon and Harrow infection rates are also up, from 7.8 to 13.4 and 6.8 to 8.

Barnet and Enfield also both recorded saw a spike in infections, with 39 new cases in Barnet (a rate of 9.9, up from 8.1) and 23 in Enfield (a rate of 6.9 up from 4.8).

Sutton, which has the lowest rate of infection in London (2.9), recorded six new cases for the second week running.

These figures lag behind the worst areas in England.

In Blackburn with Darwen the rate has risen from 68.1 to 86.2, with 129 new cases.

Oldham is third, but the rate has dropped from 109.7 to 83.1 with 197 new cases.

However,iIn Leicester the rate continues to fall, down from 66.6 to 50.5 with 179 new cases.