THE total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Somerset has risen to 135.

That represents an increase of 21 cases since the figures recorded by Public Health England on Monday.

PHE says there have been 17 deaths in the area covered by Somerset County Council - nine of those at Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital.

Across the UK as a whole, there have been 60,733 reported cases, with 57,756 in England, 4,565 in Scotland, 4,073 in Wales and1,339 in Northern Ireland.