STARK warnings have been placed around town to remind people that Covid-19 cases in Reading are "spreading rapidly".

Boards have been placed near to Broad Street Mall, with statements reading: "Covid-19 infection rates are rising FAST in Reading.

"Are YOU keeping two metres apart?"

READ MORE: Drop in Reading's drug-related deaths

It comes as the most recent figures (from Friday, October 16), reveal that 1,209 people in Reading have now tested positive for Covid-19, with many of these increasing day on day in the last couple of months.

Figure from the weekend (October 17 - 18) have not yet been published.

The number of recorded coronavirus cases in Reading increased by 15 on Friday, official figures show.

Public Health England figures show that 1,209 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Friday (October 16) in Reading, up from 1,194 the same time on Thursday.

The health body is now including Pillar 2 tests – those carried out by commercial partners – alongside Pillar 1 tests, which are analysed in NHS or PHE laboratories and which made up the first stage of the Government's mass testing programme.

The rate of infection in Reading now stands at 747 cases per 100,000 people, far lower than the England average of 1,039.

Across the UK, the number of recorded cases increased by 15,635 over the period, to 689,257.

READ MORE: Police operation following 'anti-social use of vehicles'

​Reading's cases were among the 55,353 recorded across the South East, a figure which rose by 814 over the period.

Cumulative case counts include patients who are currently unwell, have recovered and those that have died.