A second town near Grantham in as many days has reported an alarming 'spike' in coronavirus numbers.

Earlier in the week, residents in Melton feared a lockdown, leading to Rutland MP Alicia Kearns to offer reassurance and dismiss their concerns.

Instead, health chiefs opened up a Covid-19 testing station in the town.

Now, the spotlight has turned to Newark to Grantham's north where Lincolnshire's health bosses are monitoring the situation after cases tripled in the last week.

Eight cases of COVID-19 were also reported at the Bakkavor Dessert Factory in Newark on Wednesday, sparking warnings from the MP Robert Jenrick and other authorities.

According to the government's dashboard, cases in Newark and Sherwood have increased by nine since Saturday, August 1. Since July 27 there have been 27 extra cases recorded officially.

However, it is unclear whether this includes the cases at the factory or if they are still to be added on to the figures.

BBC's East Midlands Today reported this afternoon that the increase in Newark and Sherwood puts the region among the top 25 local authorities in the UK for cases.

With many commuting into the region, Lincolnshire County Council's Director of Public Health Derek Ward said: "We continue to monitor our own figures and are sharing information across our border authorities to make sure we are aware and linked in with relevant incidents."

Earlier this week it was revealed new powers given to local councils to tackle outbreaks included the ability to demolish contaminated homes and crush cars as a last resort in a bid to stop a second wave.

However, Mr Ward said the county was "a long way away" from those kinds of extremities.

"We'll look at the powers available and national guidance available as necessary if we get to the stage of contaminated properties.

"But we are a long way away from anything this extreme in Lincolnshire – where we continue to have a relatively low transmission of the disease and a robust, well established health protection system in place."

Government figures are due out later today, but yesterday the number of cases in the county rose by six.

There have so far been 2,543 confirmed cases in the county in total.

Elsewhere, NHS England confirmed this afternoon (Thursday) there had been no further hospital deaths at any of the Greater Lincolnshire hospital trusts (including Northern Lincolnshire and Goole) for a seventh day in a row.