THE North-East postcodes where the coronavirus infection rate is among the highest in the UK have been listed - with one area seeing a 420 per cent increase in just one week.

Seventeen areas across County Durham, Teesside and Tyne & Wear have been listed as Covid 'hot-spots' due a surge in the infection rate there.

It comes as today Brits were warned that the next few weeks will be the "worst weeks of the pandemic" for the NHS by England's Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty.

SEE MORE: Brits warned next few weeks will be "worst weeks of pandemic" for the NHS

Latest Public Health England data released on January 11, shows that in the past week, the listed areas all had infection rates above 800 cases per 100,000 population - the highest category.

The data, which is released daily in the form of an interactive map, shows that in the seven days to January 5, Hartlepool was the only council area in the North-East identified as a hot-spot.

Four out of 11 postcodes in Hartlepool all saw their infection rates rise above 800, with one area recording a rate of 1,190.6 per 100,000.

In County Durham, four areas were also listed as hotspots as nearby Blackhall, in East Durham, recorded a rate of 944.9 per 100,000 people.

Several areas across Tyne and Wear, and Teesside were also recorded as hot-spots with infection rates surging in the past week.

>>>See the list below<<<

The Northern Echo: The darkest coloured areas are where the infection rate is at its highest Picture: PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLANDThe darkest coloured areas are where the infection rate is at its highest Picture: PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND

How the map is broken down

White - missing data

Yellow - 0 to 9

Green - 10 to 49

Turquoise - 50 to 99

Blue - 100 to 199

Dark blue - 200 to 399

Purple - 400 to 799

Dark purple - 800 and above

Here are the Covid hot-spots in the North-East

In the seven days to January 5, compared with the week before - in order of Covid infection rate.

1. Rossmere and Mill (Hartlepool)

Number of new cases: 82 (up 19)

Covid infection rate: 1,190.6 per 100,000 people

Covid cases are up 30.2 per cent

2. Owton Manor (Hartlepool)

Number of new cases: 90 (up 20)

Covid infection rate: 1,161.3 per 100,000 people

Covid cases are up 28.6 per cent

3. Rift Hill and Summerhill (Hartlepool)

Number of new cases: 70 (up 29)

Covid infection rate: 1,084.6  per 100,000 people

Covid cases are up 70.7 per cent

4. Wooler Road (Hartlepool)

Number of new cases: 56 (up 11 )

Covid infection rate: 957.6 per 100,000 people

Covid cases are up 24.4 per cent

5. Shotton and Haswell (County Durham)

Number of new cases: 65 (up 51)

Covid infection rate: 948.1 per 100,000 people

Covid cases are up 364.3 per cent

6. Blackhall (County Durham)

Number of new cases: 54 (up 18)

Covid infection rate: 944.9 per 100,000 people

Covid cases are up 50.0 per cent

7. Hetton-le-Hole (Sunderland)

Number of new cases: 67 (up 24)

Covid infection rate: 926.2 per 100,000 people

Covid cases are up 55.8 per cent

8. Chopwell and High Spen (Gateshead)

Number of new cases: 64 (up 17)

Covid infection rate: 918.4 per 100,000 people

Covid cases are up 36.2 per cent

9. Stanley West and Annfield Plain (County Durham)

Number of new cases: 71 (up 24)

Covid infection rate: 905.6 per 100,000 people

Covid cases are up 51.1 per cent

10. Nunthorpe and Marton East (Middlesbrough)

Number of new cases: 92 (up 25) 

Covid infection rate: 899.1 per 100,000 people

Covid cases are up 37.3 per cent

11. Bankfields (Redcar and Cleveland)

Number of new cases: 52 (up 42)

Covid infection rate: 884.5 per 100,000 people

Covid cases are up 420 per cent

12. Wingate and Castle Eden (County Durham)

Number of new cases: 65 (up 20)

Covid infection rate: 884.0 per 100,000 people

Covid cases are up 44.4 per cent

13.  Norton South (Stockton)

Number of new cases: 74 (up 31)

Covid infection rate: 851.2 per 100,000 people

Covid cases are up 72.1 per cent

14. Thorney Close and Plains Farm (Sunderland)

Number of new cases: 81 (up 44)

Covid infection rate: 825.3 per 100,000 people

Covid cases are up 118.9 per cent

15. Stanley South (County Durham)

Number of new cases: 78 (up 19 )

Covid infection rate: 816.3 per 100,000 people

Covid cases are up 32.2 per cent

16. Simonside (South Tyneside)

Number of new cases: 46 (up 27)

Covid infection rate: 814.6 per 100,000 people

Covid cases are up 142.1 per cent

17. Silksworth (Sunderland)

Number of new cases: 53 (up 26)

Covid infection rate: 806.5 per 100,000 people

Covid cases are up 96.3 per cent