Gloucestershire County Council is releasing fresh figures to provide a clearer pickier of confirmed COVID-10 cases.

Until now, published figures have been based on those released in the so-called Pillar 1 via the NHS and Public Health England.

But the council will now publish figures under Pillar 2 from Public Health England which includes home tests, mobile testing units and the site at Hempsted Meadows.

The figures have been received by the council for some time to inform its response to the pandemic, but it has not been able to publish now.

Pillar 2 figures reveal an additional 360 cases in Gloucestershire since March 16, bringing the number of cases in the county to 1,754.

The figures do not change the overall trend in the county with the peak of the virus to date in mid-April.

The publication follows concerns over a lack of clarity about when cases - and potential spikes - reported in Pillar 1 were recorded.

Director of public health for Gloucestershire Sarah Scott said: "The data we are releasing today provides a more complete picture of the number of confirmed cases in the county and clearly shows there is no spike.

"I completely understand that with so many sets of data available it has been difficult for people to get a complete picture of the situation in the county and indeed across the country.

I hope this additional data helps to provide more clarity for everyone."

She continued: "As we take on more local control through our outbreak management plan, we will look to provide regular, up to date, more detailed data to ensure everyone is as informed as possible and can take any appropriate steps to keep them and family members safe.

"It is important to remember that although, when compared to elsewhere in the country, we have seen lower numbers of cases and deaths and currently have no outbreaks, we must continue to work together, make sure we follow social distancing measures, keep up the good hand washing.

"That way we can make sure we're doing everything possible to make sure it stays that way."