Cumbria is seeing the number of coronavirus outbreaks in schools and workplaces increase as the number of cases in the area continue to rise on a weekly basis.

More than 100 new cases were recorded across the county in the week ending September 18, up from 82 cases the previous week.

Local leaders are now taking action to slow the spread of infection, with the aim of avoiding national Government intervention and more restrictive local lockdown measures.

In Carlisle there were 38 cases per 100,000 people in the week September 18 to 24. The average area in England over that period had 27.

In Allerdale there were 30 cases per 100,000, in Copeland it rose to 35 per 100,000 and Eden recorded 17 cases per 100,000.

It has been confirmed that two members of staff, who work at Pirelli's Carlisle plant, have coronavirus.

A company spokesman said: “The two affected employees, who are related, are being offered all necessary support.

“It has been established that they did not mix with others in the factory at any point after they felt ill, when they subsequently self-isolated.

“As a result, Public Health England has advised that the site activities can continue as normal given that stringent health and safety measures are already in place.

“They have also advised that the site does not need to take any additional public health actions in the light of this specific case.”

Collabro star Matt Pagan also confirmed last week that he and his partner are now self-isolating after testing positive for the disease.

The Cumbrian singer announced the news on Tuesday evening that he and his girlfriend, Anna, have contracted the virus and are now self-isolating for ten days. The Carlisle-born star, who has performed in the city’s pantos over the last couple of years, said it “feels like a bad hangover” in a Facebook post.

Speaking about how the county’s cases had risen last week, Colin Cox, Cumbria's director of public health, said: "While we are behind other areas in the north west, which is a good thing, the numbers are all heading in the wrong direction and that is of real concern.

"Government has introduced new measures this week to try and stem the increase, but it remains to be seen whether they will have any impact.

"It remains the case that wearing a face covering, washing hands and maintaining social distancing are the key things we should all be doing. I’d also like to repeat my call for people to download the new NHS Test & Trace App. The more people using it, the more effective it will be in helping control the virus.”

People across England are now legally required to self-isolate from this week if they test positive for coronavirus or are contacted by the test and trace service or risk being hit with new fines.