Total of seven people diagnosed with coronavirus in Bedford and 22 in Central Beds

Today (March 25) Bedford has had a total of seven diagnosed cases of the deadly virus.

Neighbouring Central Bedfordshire has 22 cases and Luton has 19 .

These numbers are lower than Hertfordshire (139) and Buckinghamshire (50) and Milton Keynes (25) but members of the public are urged to remain indoors as much as possible to halt the spread of coronavirus.

London has had the fastest growing number of cases across the UK, with the highest numbers found in the boroughs of Lambeth (188), Southwark (181) and Brent (170).

Nationally, the number of coronavirus cases stands at 8,077 with 424 deaths.

Government orders to practice social distancing by keeping two metres apart in public were widely ignored over the weekend, with crowds gathering in many London parks and markets, as well as the underground.

On Monday, the government announced tougher social distancing measures, with all outdoor activities prohibited except for food shopping, one daily exercise, treatment of a condition and any essential travel for work.