More than half a dozen further coronavirus-related deaths have occurred in Thurrock care homes over the last two months, figures reveal.

Health think tank the Nuffield Trust said the rising number of positive cases and deaths in care homes nationally "paints a worrying picture", warning the impact of vaccinations may not be seen for weeks.

Office for National Statistics data shows that 274 deaths involving Covid-19 were provisionally registered in Thurrock up to January 9.

Of those 39 occurred outside hospital – including 20 in care homes, up from the 11 registered in the week to November 7.

There were 16 deaths at private homes, and a further three deaths in hospices, other community establishments or elsewhere.

Nuffield Trust deputy director of research Sarah Scobie said numbers of Covid-19 deaths will continue to grow for some time.

She added: “The majority of these deaths are taking place in hospitals, but it is very concerning to see within this latest set of data that the number of Covid deaths in care homes are rising."

Deaths in all settings have risen across England and Wales amid soaring positive case numbers – 3,144 Covid-related fatalities were registered in the seven days to January 1.

In the two months to January 9 in Thurrock:

Deaths outside hospital increased by 18, climbing to a total of 39

Hospital deaths increased by 85 to 235

The overall death toll climbed by 103