Epping Forest's neighbourhoods worst hit by the Covid-19 pandemic have been revealed in the first annual death toll of the virus.

The data published by the Office for National Statistics shows people living in the poorest areas are more likely to die from the disease compared to those in the most affluent.

Crowded living conditions and low-paid jobs are among the factors, claim the Institute of Health Equity, which says lives could have been saved if better safety measures were imposed.

In the 12 months from March last year, 374 people in Epping Forest died due to Covid-19, according to the ONS figures – a rate of 259 per 100,000 people.

The peak month for deaths was April when 142 were recorded.

Across the East of England, 12,918 people lost their lives to the virus – 194 deaths per 100,000 people.

The figures also show which of Epping Forest's 17 neighbourhoods saw the most and fewest deaths of residents over the 12-month period.

Factors behind a larger number can include the number of care homes in a particular area.

The neighbourhoods with the highest number of deaths: Waltham Abbey North – 39 deaths due to Covid-19; Buckhurst Hill – 38; Grange Hill – 35.

And he neighbourhoods with the fewest number of deaths: Roydon, Lower Nazeing and Epping Green – 10; Loughton South – 11; Chipping Ongar –12; Loughton West –12

As well as providing local-level data, the ONS statistics also showed the wide disparity in the pandemic’s impact on different communities.

The most deprived areas across England had death rates related to Covid-19 of more than double that of the most affluent parts – 331 per 100,000 compared to 137 over the 12-month period from March last year.

The Institute of Health Equity said those in deprived areas were more likely to be a key or low-paid economy worker, meaning they were less able to work from home and were at greater risk to infection.

It also said they were more likely to be living in crowded accommodation.

Senior advisor Peter Goldblatt said: "Earlier and stricter lockdown would have saved lives disproportionately in deprived areas.

"However, to do this effectively would have required greater support to key workers and those in the gig-economy.

“This is both in terms of more generous and wider furlough and improved supply of PPE and other safety measures both in the workplace, in the community and while travelling to and from work."