Mansfield has the highest Covid rate in England

The news come just a day after pubs, gyms, non-essential shops and hair salons in the town welcomed back customers for the first time this year as lockdown measures continue to ease.

Figures show that Mansfield currently has 107.9 cases per 100,000 – an increase of more than 14 per cent on the previous seven days.

It is also almost four times the England average of 28.1 per 100,000 people, with some Mansfield neighbourhoods having rates more than five or six times higher than the national figure.

In comparison, Ashfield has a rate of 26.6 and Newark & Sherwood 37.6. Nottinghamshire currently stands at 36.1.

Speaking to journalists at a briefing on Friday, heath officials blamed the rise in Mansfield on outbreaks within schools.

Louise Lester, consultant in Public Health for Nottinghamshire County Council, said: "We have picked up the rates are slightly higher in Mansfield.

"We believe this is linked to a number of outbreaks in schools in the area.”