For all the latest news from in and around Bolton, sign up for the free MyBolton newsletter The leader of Bolton council has called on the government not to push back plans to ease lockdown restrictions despite a rapid increase in Covid-19 cases.
The borough now has the highest infection rates in the country and figures have more than doubled over the last seven days. Public health bosses believe this sudden spike in cases is being caused by the B.1.617.2 strain of the virus, often called the Indian variant, which is thought to be more transmissible than the initial coronavirus strain.
Bolton North East MP Mark Logan and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham have both urged the government to offer supplies for a mass vaccination project