A SENIOR police officer has welcomed the news that coronavirus vaccines will be administered in Cumbria from today.

It comes as there were eight deaths announced in the last three days in patients who had coronavirus at one of the county's NHS trusts.

Saturday's announced figures revealed six new deaths at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust - which runs hospitals in south Cumbria and north Lancashire. Four deaths were recorded on Friday and two on Thursday.

NHS England figures also show a single death was announced on Sunday and another yesterday at the trust. Both deaths were recorded on Saturday.

No new deaths in patients with coronavirus were announced by the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust at the weekend.

The latest Public Health England figures for the seven-day period ending on December 1 are as follows:

Allerdale - 73 (74.7 cases per 100,000 people)

Barrow - 42 (62.6 cases per 100,000 people)

Carlisle - 77 (70.9 cases per 100,000 people)

Copeland - 28 (41.1 cases per 100,000 people)

Eden - 23 (43.2 cases per 100,000 people)

England - 83,678 (148.7 cases per 100,000 people)

South Lakes - 89 (84.7 cases per 100,000 people)

Michelle Skeer, Chief Constable for Cumbria Constabulary, said: “It is positive news that the vaccine has been signed off and is coming into the county. The strategic coordinating group has been working really hard with various sub groups to look at how that is going to be done.

“It has got to be a positive direction of travel and hopefully we can all have a more normal 2021. It is definitely a step in the right direction.”