FOUR villages have seen more deaths linked to coronavirus than anywhere else in the Colchester borough, new figures reveal.

Office for National Statistics data shows the number of deaths involving Covid-19 split by small areas within local authorities.

Between March and May, 16 people in the area of Horkesley Heath, Langham and Dedham died with the virus – the most in Colchester’s 20 areas.

The area covers Great Horkesley, Little Horkesley, Dedham and Langham.

Both Stanway and Parson’s Heath recorded 14 deaths respectively, the next highest total in Colchester.

At the other end of the spectrum, there were two areas - Highwoods and Abbey Field - where only one death was recorded over the period.

Read more >>> Location of every coronavirus death in Colchester and Tendring

The ONS data includes deaths for which coronavirus was the underlying cause, or was mentioned on the death certificate as a contributory factor.

The report, which updates figures published in May, shows the wide disparity in the pandemic’s impact on different communities.

In ​England, the rate of deaths related to Covid-19 in the most deprived areas was 128.3 per 100,000, more than double that in the most affluent parts of the nation.

In May, 32 deaths in Colchester were linked to Covid-19, including those registered up to June 6 – equivalent to 18.7 per 100,000 of the population.

The rate represented a big drop from April, when it stood at 40.8.

Anti-poverty charity the Joseph Rowntree Foundation said the pandemic has laid bare the “stark” health inequalities between neighbourhoods.

Dave Innes, head of economics at the foundation, said: “It is completely unacceptable that someone’s life chances are so profoundly affected by where they live. [The] statistics must act as a wake-up call – as a society with a strong sense of decency and compassion we can and must do better.”

A government spokesman said: “Every death from this disease is a tragedy, but thanks to our health and care workers and the huge efforts of the British people, rates of Covid-19 infections are decreasing over time.

“The Government is working to understand the key drivers of disparities in infection and death rates.

“We are taking forward the work of Public Health England’s recent Disparity Review, which will help us make a real difference to people’s lives and protect our communities from the impact of the coronavirus.”