AS Covid-19 cases continue to rise, one area of north Dorset now has case rates exceeding 400 per 100,000.

From the week ending January 8, Blandford Forum Town has the highest coronavirus case rates in the north Dorset and Blackmore Vale patch, with a rolling rate of 439.4 and 46 positive cases recorded - an increase of 17. 

Previously the Blandford Forum Town area, like most of north Dorset, had a case rate of 100 per 100,000. Now most of the north of the county is in the 200 per 100,000 group, illustrating a jump in cases in the last week.

Sturminster Newton, Stalbridge and Sherborne are the only areas in the Blackmore Vale patch with a case rate of 100 per 100,000.

Here is a breakdown of cases from the north Dorset area:

BLANDFORD FORUM TOWN - 46 cases (+17 on previous week; rolling rate of 439.4)

BLANDFORD OUTER AND TARRANTS - 35 cases (+4 on previous week; rolling rate of 309.0)

SHAFTESBURY - 24 cases (+9 on previous week; rolling rate of 268.6)

GILLINGHAM - 25 cases (+8 on previous week; rolling rate of 327.2)

GILLINGHAM OUTER, BOURTON AND MOTCOMBE - 23 cases (+10 on previous week; rolling rate of 250.8)

TISBURY, DONHEAD AND TOLLARD ROYAL - 24 cases (+4 on previous week; rolling rate of 386.3)

TEMPLECOMBE, HENTSRIDGE AND MILBORNE PORT - 14 cases (-1 on previous week; rolling rate of 211.0)

YETMINSTER, BRADFORD ABBAS AND LONGBURTON - 18 cases (-3 on previous week; rolling rate of 234.4)

MERE AND EAST KNOYLE - 19 cases (+10 on previous week; rolling rate of 282.1)

CHILD OKEFORD AND IWERNE MINSTER - 16 cases (+3 on previous week; rolling rate of 220.5)

MILBORNE, WINTERBORNE AND OKEFORD FITZPAINE - 17 cases (-2 on previous week; rolling rate of 213.1)

SHERBORNE - 17 cases (-4 on previous week; rolling rate of 171.8)

STURMINSTER NEWTON AND STALBRIDGE - 14 cases (-2 on previous week; rolling rate of 137.1)

The rise in cases and rates, shown on the map, is linked to the new variant of the virus which has been spreading faster among people aged 20-29. 

These Dorset case rates are still lower compared to the surrounding areas in Wiltshire and Hampshire, which now sit in the 400 per 100,000 group.

READ: How Salisbury Covid rates have risen in the past two weeks

Updated daily, the map and figures are based on Public Health England data, available on the government coronavirus dashboard's interactive map.

This map breaks down infections in England into Middle Super Output Areas (MSOAs) - small areas with an average population of 7,200.