No deaths from Covid-19 were recorded in East Renfrewshire for a second consecutive week, the latest figures show.

The National Records of Scotland statistics, covering the week ending August 29, reveal the total number of fatalities in the area since the pandemic began remains at 230.

The welcomes news comes after East Renfrewshire suffered its worst week for deaths from Covid-19 since the end of March, with two fatalities recorded in the week ending August 15.

A total of 20 of Scotland's 32 council areas recorded Covid fatalities last week.

The Scottish Borders was worst hit, with seven lives lost, followed by Glasgow, where there were six deaths, and East Lothian, which had five fatalities.

The figures include all fatalities registered where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate and, as this includes suspected or probable cases, it differs from the lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths announced daily by the Scottish Government.

Across Scotland as a whole, the death toll increased by 48 last week to a new total of 10,554.

Of the 48 deaths recorded, nine involved people aged under 65, 11 were aged 65 to 74 and there were 28 deaths of people aged 75 or over.

A total of 28 fatalities were male, while 20 were female.

Pete Whitehouse, director of statistical services at NRS, said: "Today’s NRS figures show that there were 48 deaths in Scotland last week where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, an increase of seven on the previous week's figure.”

"Deaths from all causes were 10% higher than average for the equivalent week in the period 2015 to 2019. This is the 14th consecutive week where deaths have been above average."