Torbay and South Devon Trust was caring for 18 coronavirus patients in hospital as of Wednesday, figures show.

NHS England data shows the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 by 8am on December 28 was down from 27 on the same day the previous week.

There were four beds occupied by Covid-19 patients four weeks ago in Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.

Across England there were 9,459 people in hospital with Covid as of December 28, with 209 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The number of Covid-19 patients hospitalised nationally has increased by 91% in the last four weeks, while the number on mechanical ventilators has increased by 63%.

The figures also show that 26 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust in the week to December 26. This was down from 50 in the previous seven days.