London has been the worst-hit area in England for Covid-19 deaths, with mortality rate a third higher than any other region, but numbers are now starting to shoot down.

Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that for England and Wales, shown that London has suffered by far the worst mortality rate after the capital emerged as the epicentre of the outbreak in the UK.

London boroughs make up nine out of the top ten areas with the highest mortality rates where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, and as a region has recorded 137.6 deaths per 100,000 people across the last three months.

Lewisham came in with the seventh highest number of coronavirus deaths per 100,000 people, measured between March 1 and May 31, with Brent, Hackney and Newham.

The mortality rate in Lewisham was 168.1, followed by 161.6 in Croydon, 130.5 in Greenwich and 117.5 in Dartford.

The good news is that coronavirus mortality rates more than halved in all but two regions in England and Wales between April and May, and London has seen the greatest decrease of them all.

The capital's mortality rate has fallen by 83.3%, according to the ONS. with just 15.7 deaths per 100,000.

London had recorded the highest rate in both March and April, with rates of 27.8 deaths per 100,000 population and 94.1 deaths per 100,000 respectively.

South-west England had the lowest mortality rate overall during each of the last three months.

The local authority with the highest Covid-19 mortality rate in May was Preston in Lancashire, with a rate of 51.1 deaths per 100,000 people.

For all areas, males had a significantly higher mortality rate than females, except for the North East region in May.

The figures are based on all deaths that occurred in March, April and May 2020 where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, and which had been registered by June 6.

Conservative Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen said the North East was between four and six weeks behind London in terms of peak number of deaths.

Except in London, mortality rates in May were still higher than in March.

The ONS said as more deaths are registered the mortality rate is likely to increase, especially in May.

Friday's figures show that people living in the most deprived areas of England continue to experience coronavirus mortality rates more than double those living in the least deprived areas.

There were 128.3 deaths per 100,000 people in the most deprived areas - 118% higher than the 58.8 deaths per 100,000 in the least deprived parts of the country.

This is greater than the difference in the mortality rate for all deaths, which is 92.2% higher than in the least deprived areas.