THE Bromsgrove neighbourhoods which saw the biggest rise in their death tolls during the coronavirus pandemic have been revealed – as well as those which seemingly escaped without major impact.

Data published by the Office for National Statistics comparing the number of deaths registered during the pandemic to a baseline from previous years shows some areas of the country were significantly more affected than others.

In the 14 months to the end of April, there were 1,433 deaths registered in Bromsgrove – 156 (12.2 per cent) more than the 1,277 predicted, according to the ONS figures.

Of the deaths, 247 had Covid-19 listed as the main cause – however, many Covid-related deaths at the start of the pandemic may have been undiagnosed, the ONS cautioned.

A further breakdown for Bromsgrove, released for the first time, also reveals which of the area's 14 neighbourhoods had the highest and lowest excess death rates during the pandemic.

The measurement compares the number of deaths registered during the period with how many were predicted based on previous mortality rates between 2014 and 2019.

In Bromsgrove, the neighbourhoods with the highest excess death rates were:

1) Bromsgrove Central and Sanders Park – 180 deaths, 62 (52.5 per cent) more deaths than expected, and including 41 with Covid-19 listed as the main cause

2) Marlbrook and Lickey End – 114 deaths, 38 (50 per cent) more deaths than expected, including 23 due to Covid-19

3) Bromsgrove Charford – 87 deaths, 19 (27.9 per cent) more deaths than expected , including 12 due to Covid-19

The neighbourhoods with the lowest excess death rates were:

1) Barnt Green and Lickey Hills – 76 deaths, 18 (19.1 per cent) fewer than expected, and including seven with Covid-19 listed as the main cause

2) Stoke Heath, Finstall and Bentley – 98 deaths, 20 (16.9 per cent) fewer than expected, including five due to Covid-19

3) Hagley – 79 deaths, one (1.3 per cent) fewer than expected, including 12 due to Covid-19

Across England and Wales, the ONS reported that two periods over the 14 months – March 2020 to July 2020 and September 2020 to March this year – saw the highest rates for excess deaths.

In Bromsgrove, the highest number of excess deaths came in April last year when there were 117.