Nearly a third of people aged 45 and over in South Lakeland have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, figures reveal.

NHS data shows 28,956 people had received both jabs by April 25 – 32 per cent of those aged 16 and over, based on the latest population estimates from the Office for National Statistics.

Of those to have received both jabs, 26,301 were aged 45 and over – 43 per cent of the age group.

It means 2,655 people aged between 16 and 44 have received both doses.

The figures also show 63,948 people in South Lakeland have received at least one jab – 71 per cent of those aged 16 and over.

MP Tim Farron, who has now been invited for his second jab, said the news was ‘very encouraging.’

“The rollout has been immense,” he said.

“I think it’s no coincidence that we’re in this situation where a large proportion of people have been vaccinated and that Morecambe Bay are able to say the Covid ICU is empty for the first time in six months.

“And it’s a reminder that the vaccination programme and all the safety measures are genuinely saving lives.

“Don’t give up now but it is very encouraging.”

The data reveals variation in coverage for residents who had received at least one dose between different areas across South Lakeland.

Areas with the highest vaccination coverage are:

*Burton-in-Kendal, Levens and Natland, with 78 per cent of people aged 16 and over given their first dose.

* Grange-over-Sands and Cartmel Peninsula, 77.9 per cent.

* Arnside, Milnthorpe and Holme, 76.5 per cent.

Areas with the lowest coverage are:

* Windermere North, Ambleside and Langdales, 62.5 per cent

*Kendal Town and Greenside, 62.6 per cent

* Windermere South and Staveley, 64.2 per cent

Across England, 11 million people had received a second dose of the jab by April 25 – 24% of the population aged over 16 and over.

That includes 9.4 million people aged 45 and over – 38 per cent of the age group.

In total, 28.2 million people had received at least one dose of a vaccine by the same date, covering 62 per cent of people over 16.