BARRY West has had more deaths linked to the coronavirus than anywhere else in the Vale of Glamorgan, new figures show.

In the Vale, 101 people have died since the start of the pandemic with 11 deaths linked to coronavirus in June.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which break down the number of deaths involving Covid-19 to areas within local authorities, show 17 people died in Barry West with the virus between March and June.

Penarth saw 10 Covid-19 related deaths during this period.

In these cases, coronavirus was the underlying cause or was mentioned on the death certificate as a contributory factor.

At the other end of the scale, Ogmore-by-Sea and Llandow had one recorded death – the lowest of the Vale of Glamorgan's 15 areas.

Deprived areas across Wales had death rates related to Covid-19 of almost double that of the most affluent parts – 119.1 per 100,000 compared to 63.5.

Turn2us, a charity dedicated to helping people out of poverty, said the figures “highlight the extreme inequalities that affect so many people”.

Sara Willcocks, head of communications at the charity, said: "We may all be weathering the same storm, but we are certainly not all in the same boat. For a society that believes in compassion, we must right these wrongs of social injustices.

"We urge the government to focus on levelling up not just regions of the UK but also our neighbourhoods.”

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation said the statistics are another "grim reminder" that it is the people living in more deprived areas who are bearing the brunt of this disease.

Peter Matejic, head of evidence at the organisation, said: "It is utterly wrong that someone’s life chances are so deeply impacted by where they live.

“Already worsening before the pandemic hit, we cannot allow our record on tackling poverty and health inequalities to unravel any further. As we start to rebuild, the government must urgently address the structural problems that have contributed to these tragic deaths. We can and must do better.”

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We have seen from coronavirus just how directly economic disadvantage has produced an impact on health.

"As we make decisions about the future, our approach to recovery will take a broader view of public health, responding to the ways in which economic disadvantage reduces quality of life and the distribution of life chances.

“We remain fully committed to tackling poverty and inequality in Wales.”