One of the worst weekends ever as more than 700 new Covid cases are confirmed in Milton Keynes

Over the two days before the new term in schools was originally meant to start, 718 people tested positive for the virus..

Some 348 of these cases were confirmed on Saturday and 370 on Sunday.

There have been no new deaths in the city for several days now but 193 people are ill enough to be in MK hospital, with six of them needed ventilation.

The total number of cases in MK since the start of the pandemic now stands at 11,203 and the city's death toll is 256.

Milton Keynes was last week chosen as one of the country's high risk areas where primary school pupils will not return as planned today (Monday).

Secondary schools also will not fully open until January 18.