The first coronavirus death in over nine weeks has been recorded at Southend Hospital, the latest figures show.

NHS England figures show 251 people had died in hospital at Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Thursday.

That was an increase of one compared to the 250 that had been recorded at the same point on Wednesday, and the first death in 64 days.

The victims were among 3,463 deaths recorded across the East of England.

Of 189 trusts in England, Southend Hospital trust has the 45th-highest death toll.

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.