The United Kingdom has recorded 30,597 new COVID-19 cases and a further 201 coronavirus-related deaths, with the number of coronavirus patients in hospital over 8,000 for the seventh day in a row.

The total number of people in hospital with coronavirus in the UK currently stands at 8,340 - it has been over 8,000 for eight of the past nine days.

Before this, the last time figures surpassed the 8,000 mark was in early March.

At this time last year, there was a total of 1,066 COVID-19 patients in hospital across the UK.

The number of patients in mechanical ventilation beds stands at 1,060 - the figure has been over 1,000 every day since the last day of August. Before this, the last time the number was as high was in mid-March.

The cases and deaths figures compare with the 26,628 infections and 185 fatalities recorded on Tuesday and the 38,975 infections and 191 fatalities recorded this time last week.

(With input from agencies)