BURTON-in-Kendal, Levens and Natland have recorded just two Covid-related deaths since the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic, making it the lowest across the district’s 14 areas.

In South Lakeland, 150 people have died since the start of the pandemic with six deaths linked to Covid-19 in June, according to new figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Ulverston, by contrast, has had more deaths linked to Covid-19 than anywhere else in South Lakeland, according to the new ONS numbers.

The figures, which break down the number of deaths involving Covid-19 to areas within local authorities, show 26 people died in Ulverston with the virus between March and June.

In these cases, Covid-19 was the underlying cause or was mentioned on the death certificate as a contributory factor.

Deprived areas across England have seen death rates related to Covid-19 of more than double that of the most affluent parts – 139.6 per 100,000 compared to 63.4 - which the Joseph Rowntree Foundation said was another ‘grim reminder’ that it is people living in deprived areas who are bearing the brunt of this disease.

Sara Willcocks, head of communications at the charity Turn2Us, called on the Government to make good on its pledge to ‘level up’ the north of England, saying: “We may all be weathering the same storm, but we are certainly not all in the same boat. For a society that believes in compassion, we must right these wrongs of social injustices.

“We urge the government to focus on levelling up not just regions of the UK but also our neighbourhoods.

“Everyone deserves the right to access high quality jobs, affordable housing and a strong social security system that gives people the support they need; when they need it, so local communities can thrive together.”

A DHSC spokesman said there were other contributory factors.