Staffordshire residents have been urged to "follow the rules like never before" to keep the county in tier 1 - the lowest Coronavirus alert level - as Stoke-on-Trent moves into tier 2.

Stoke-on-Trent residents will now be banned from mixing with other households indoors as the city moves into the 'high' alert level. The rest of Staffordshire has so far remained at the 'medium' level.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council asked to be moved into the higher alert level following an increase in the city's infection rates, with a current rate of 210.2 cases per 100,000 population for the seven days up to October 19.

Staffordshire currently has an infection rate of 155.6, with a rate of 164.6 in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

Alan White, Leader of Staffordshire County Council, has urged people to "act now" to avoid Staffordshire being placed into tier 2.

He said: "We are doing everything we can to tackle the rising numbers and will continue to put the case for keeping the county on the lowest alert level if it is safe to do so.

"Nobody wants to see further restrictions on families and friends getting together or potentially businesses closing if the situation continues to escalate.

"We must act now and this means following the rules like never before."

South Staffordshire currently has some of the highest infection rates in the county (excluding Stoke-on-Trent) with a current rate of 182.3.

Brian Edwards, Leader of South Staffordshire District Council, said: "We have had fantastic support across our communities in the efforts to tackle Covid-19 and have seen a slight dip in cases in the last few days.

"We need to build on this and continue to stick to the rules to keep South Staffordshire people safe and the district free from further measures.

"This means us all playing our part and we will also not hesitate to take action against those who repeatedly ignore the rules and put the health and welfare of the people who live and work in South Staffordshire at risk."