THE number of recorded coronavirus cases in Reading increased by three over the last 24 hours, official figures show.

Tuesday's (September 22) figures follow a further eight people testing positive for the virus throughout the weekend as a national spike has resulted in restrictions being reintroduced.

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Public Health England figures show that 929 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Tuesday in Reading, up from 926 the same time on Monday.

The health body is now including Pillar 2 tests – those carried out by commercial partners – alongside Pillar 1 tests, which are analysed in NHS or PHE laboratories and which made up the first stage of the Government's mass testing programme.

The rate of infection in Reading now stands at 574 cases per 100,000 people, lower than the England average of 618.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 4,926 over the period, to 403,551.

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​Reading's cases were among the 41,274 recorded across the South East, a figure which rose by 187 over the period.

Cumulative case counts include patients who are currently unwell, have recovered and those that have died.