Four new Coronavirus deaths have been recorded in the latest 24 hour period, it has been revealed.

NHS England figures show 251 people had died in hospital at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust as of 5pm on Wednesday.

That was an increase of four compared to Tuesday, when there were 247.

It means there have been 13 deaths in the past week, down from 22 the previous week.

The victims were among 6,234 deaths recorded across the South East.

Daily death counts are revised each day, with each case backdated to the actual date of death.

This means some of the deaths that were first recorded in the latest period may actually have taken place days earlier.

NHS England guidance states: “Confirmation of Covid-19 diagnosis, death notification and reporting in central figures can take up to several days and the hospitals providing the data are under significant operational pressure.”

Only deaths that occur in hospitals where the patient has tested positive for Covid-19 are recorded, with deaths in the community excluded, such as those in care homes.

The figures come just a day after a “major incident” was declared in the county over fears the mutant strain could overwhelm services.