Preston had the 'highest Covid-19 death rate in England and Wales last month'

The figures, compiled by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), are based on deaths registered by June 6 where the coronavirus is mentioned on the death certificate.

With 51.1 deaths for every 100,000 residents last month, the city topped the league of heartbreak, followed closely by Hull at 50.1, Northampton at 47.2, and Kettering at 46.5.

Chorley’s rate was 29.8, Blackpool’s was 29.3, and Wyre’s was 29.1, the statistics revealed.

However, it was the North East with the worst mortality rate of any of the English regions last month. London had the lowest.

Commenting on the figures, the elected Tees Valley mayor said the North East was between four and six weeks behind the capital in its coronavirus cycle.

For all areas, men had a significantly higher mortality rate than women, except for the North East, in May.

The figures also showed that people living in the most deprived areas of England continue to experience Covid-19 mortality rates more than double those living in the wealthier areas.

There were 128.3 deaths per 100,000 people in the most deprived areas – 118 per cent higher than the 58.8 deaths per 100,000 in the least deprived parts of the country.

Dave Innes, head of economics at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: “Before the pandemic hit, there were signs that our record on tackling poverty and health inequalities was unravelling. Covid-19 has laid bare just how stark those inequalities are.

“It is completely unacceptable that someone’s life chances are so profoundly affected by where they live. Today’s statistics must be a wake-up call – as a society with a strong sense of decency and compassion, we can and must do better.”

Over the past three months, London had the overall highest mortality rate, with 137.6 deaths per 100,000 people – more than a third higher than the next highest region.

Nine of the 10 local authorities with the highest Covid-19 mortality rates during this period were London boroughs.

Brent had the highest rate with 210.9 deaths per 100,000 population, followed by Newham (196.8 deaths per 100,000 population) and Hackney (182.9 deaths per 100,000 population).

After rising between March and April, age-standardised mortality rates fell by more than 50 per cent in all regions except the North East and Yorkshire and The Humber, the ONS said.