A growing number of coronavirus cases were confirmed in South West London and north Surrey in recent days amid nationwide fears over a second wave of the deadly virus.

The latest data released by Public Health England (PHE) showed more cases of Covid-19 confirmed in every borough in South West London, plus the neighbouring boroughs of northern Surrey.

The number of cases most recently confirmed by PHE's nationwide dashboard, which charts cases by postcode across England, were reported between September 1-September 7.

They showed more confirmed cases in Croydon, Sutton, Kingston, Merton, Wandsworth and Richmond, plus Epsom and Elmbridge in Surrey.

In Croydon at least 28 cases were confirmed over the time period, including 11 in the Norbury area.

Neighbouring Sutton reported fewer additional cases since September 1, with four more instances of the virus confirmed in the Banstead area and an additional four in Worcester Park East.

To the North Wandsworth showed a bigger increase with more cases reported in Wandsworth Common (6), Clapham North (6), Wandsworth South (6) and Battersea Park (4), among others in different postcodes.

South of Wandsworth, more cases were confirmed in Merton up to September 7 too, with additional instances of Covid-19 in Wimbledon Broadway North (3), Wimbledon Park (3) and Merton Park (3).

In London's far South West, more cases were reported in Kingston and Richmond alike.

In Kingston, the additional cases confirmed since September 1 were concentrated in New Malden West (3) and Berrylands South (3).

Meanwhile in Richmond further cases of coronavirus have occurred in Kew Gardens (4), Ham (3) and Teddington Central (4).

Outside London's jurisdiction, in Surrey, more cases were also confirmed in Epsom, with six more reported in Ewell, three in Epsom town, five in Stoneleigh and Auriol, plus four more in Banstead and Tattenham North each.

Meanwhile Elmbridge's consistently steady rate of new coronavirus infections persisted with more cases reported in West Molesey (3), Esher (3), Hersham (4), and Hinchley Wood and Weston Green (5).

Top scientists in the UK warned this week that the country's 'R'-rate of infection for coronavirus was likely above 1 and so rising exponentially i.e. at an increasingly fast rate, as it did during the previous peak of the virus in March and April.

In response to this and associated concern over a "second wave" of surging cases and deaths from the virus, the government rolled back some of its previous relaxations by imposing a limit on social gatherings to six people from Monday (September 14).

A study published by Imperial College London in recent days suggested the number of new cases in the UK was doubling every seven to eight days, pointing to a significant resurgence of coronavirus here.