OFFICIAL figures have revealed the east of Halstead has become one of the worst hit areas by Covid-19 in the Braintree district.

Statistics from the Office for National Statistics have revealed the east Halstead and Colnes area has the highest number of deaths due to Covid-19.

The area includes villages such as Earls Colne, White Colne, Colne Engaine and the east of Halstead.

According to a map produced by the ONS, the area has 16 confirmed deaths which are linked to the coronavirus.

The deaths have either been caused by Covid-19 or the virus has been a “contributing factor”.

The latests statistics showing the number of deaths due to the virus from March until June were updated this week.

The figures and map are updated every month but, due to a time-lag in the reporting of figures, the death toll is about a month behind.

The time-lag is caused by the length of time taken between date of death and the date it is officially registered.

The Earls Colne area has more total confirmed deaths than some of the bigger and more populous regions in the district.

With a total of 16 deaths, the area has more Covid-19 fatalities than central Braintree, which has seven, Bocking Church Street and Blackwater, which has 14, Halstead Central and West, with eight, and Witham South, Hatfield Peverel and White Notley, which has 15.

However, Great Dunmow and Central Chelmsford just beat the east Halstead and Colne area out with 18 and 19 deaths respectively.