Ten more people who tested positive for coronavirus have died, as the number of confirmed cases rose by more than 300, according to NHS England.

The announcement nearly doubled the UK death toll, which jumped to 21 on Saturday.

Meanwhile, 1,140 people have now tested positive for Covid-19 in the UK, an increase of 342 from Friday.

A number of the latest patients who died - who were over 60 with the oldest in his nineties - had underlying health conditions, NHS England said.

All 10 were “in the at-risk groups”, according to the chief medical officer for England.

Professor Chris Whitty said: “I understand this increase in the number of deaths linked to Covid-19 will be a cause for concern for many.

“The public should know every measure we are taking is seeking to save lives and protect the most vulnerable.”

He said: "I offer my sincere condolences to the families and friends who have received this difficult news."

Saturday's figures are the largest one-day increase in coronavirus-related deaths that the UK has seen since the outbreak started.

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The 10 patients who died were being cared for by nine trusts including Buckinghamshire, Sandwell & West Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Leicester, Barts, London, north Middlesex and Chester.​

The UK saw its first death linked to Covid-19 on 5 March, and 20 more people who had tested positive for coronavirus have died in the country since.

A newborn baby has now tested positive for coronavirus – a flu-like disease which can develop into pneumonia – in London, and is likely to be one of the world's youngest patients.

The UK could see a ban on "mass gatherings" from next week as the government looks towards more extreme measures in the fight against Covid-19.

Emergency legislation will be published next week and there could also be a move towards more people working from home, a Whitehall source said.

Europe is the new epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organisation has said.

The whole of Italy – the continent's worst-hit country – entered a state of lockdown earlier in the week, with Spain preparing to follow suit on Saturday.

Covid-19 originated in Wuhan, a central Chinese city, towards the end of last year.