TWO areas of south Essex sit in the top three for infection rates across England.

Thurrock and Castle Point's infection rates continue to rise, at 1,472 per 100,000 people and 1,420 per 100,000 respectively.

Thurrock saw 2,566 cases reported from the seven days up to January 1, while Castle Point saw a further 1,283 cases recorded across the same time period.

The two areas of south Essex are only beaten by Barking and Dagenham in London, with an infection rate 1,511 per 100,000.

READ MORE:

Of the 315 local areas in England, 310 have seen a rise in case rates and just five  have seen a fall.

The other infection rates across south Essex are as follows:

Brentwood - 1,353 per 100,000 with 1,042 cases recorded

Basildon - 1,193 per 100,000 with 2,233 cases recorded

Southend - 1,136 per 100,000 with 2,081 cases recorded

Rochford - 1,073 per 100,000, with 937 cases recorded