New figures show hundreds of more deaths than expected have been recorded in Colchester and Tendring since the coronavirus pandemic began.

The King's Fund think tank warned that excess deaths could climb across England this winter and called on the Government to act.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show Colchester recorded 274 more deaths between March 2020 and June 2022 than the five year average would suggest with Tendring recording 473.

In Colchester, this was 7.3 per cent more deaths than were expected over this time period and 9.1 per cent more in Tendring – meaning both areas has an excess death rate below the 11.1 per cent average across England and Wales.

Dr Veena Raleigh, senior fellow at the think tank, said: "If the Government wants to forestall the risk of excess deaths climbing again, ministers must take steps now to ensure good uptake of the Covid-19 and flu vaccines, and that the NHS has the workforce and resources to cope with winter pressures.”

Excess deaths nationally peaked in April 2020 and January 2021.

In Colchester and Tendring, the month with the highest excess deaths was April 2020, when they were 62.7 per cent and 84.4 per cent above normal.

By contrast, in both areas, January 2022 saw deaths 21 per cent below usual levels.