Rates of Covid-19 are continuing to climb across Kent amid growing calls for a renewed national lockdown.

The latest statistics tracking prevalence of the virus in the county show Maidstone seeing the greatest rise in the number of confirmed cases, with a 315% increase in the number of cases in the borough in the week to October 25 compared the the previous seven days.

In all there were 112 confirmed cases in the county town and surrounding areas, giving the borough an infection rate of 65.2 weekly cases per 100,000 people.

Swale remains a hotspot for infections, however, with 128.6 cases per 100,000 people. It also had the highest number of weekly cases, with 193 infected with the coronavirus in the week to October 25.

Isle of Sheppey holiday park owner Henry Cooper this week launched a no-punches-pulled attack on those who don't believe Covid-19 exists and will not wear face masks.

"All I've seen on social media is people claiming that the coronavirus isn't real and that there is no need to wear masks," he said. "Well, let me tell you that from my own experience, Covid is very real."

Kent as a whole now has an average infection rate 84.9, with the number of confirmed cases rising 68% to 1,578.

The lowest rate of infection is now to be found in the Dover district, where there were 53.3 cases per 100,000 people.

Dover was the only area to see no increase in the number of people with the virus week-to-week, with other parts of the county matching most of the country in seeing rates climb.

The new stats come as senior scientists warned a national lockdown is now needed to try to reduce the spread of of the virus.

However Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the Government is "striving" to avoid issuing blanket restrictions nationwide as he insisted targeted measures could slow the growth in cases.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent