Lockerbie has been highlighted as Dumfries and Galloway’s coronavirus hotspot, according to new figures.

Data from the National Records of Scotland shows that 11 people died of Covid-19 in the town between March and August.

Newton Stewart emerges as the second highest with four deaths during the same period, alongside a further three each in Summerville and Rhins North.

Areas of the county with no recorded deaths during the time frame included Gretna, Annan West, Locharbriggs, Nunholm, Georgetown, Dumfries central, Lochside and Lincluden, Upper Nithsdale, rural Dalbeattie and Gatehouse.

Large urban areas are recorded as seeing the highest death rates from Covid-19, as well as from all causes.

The age-standardised death rate for Covid-19 sufferers in the region sits at 50.1, with 49 recorded deaths.

Figures relating to Scotland’s population also reveal that the life expectancy for men in Dumfries and Galloway was 78.2 years from 2017 to 2019, up from 74.8 in between 2001 and 2003.

The data puts life expectancy for men in the region above the Scottish average of 77.2 years.

Women in the county can expect to live for an average of 81.4 years, the figures for 2017 to 2019 show, up from 79.7 from 2001 to 2003 and above the current national figure of 81.1 years.

Men and women in Scotland have the lowest life expectancy in the UK.

Life expectancy at birth in the region currently sits at 81.44 years for female children and 78.19 years for males.

Both figures are above the Scottish average of 81.14 for girls and 77.16 for boys.

The region is also one of seven of Scotland’s 32 council areas which experienced a decline in population between mid 2009 and mid 2019.

Figures in Dumfries and Galloway dropped by 1.5 per cent over the decade long window, alongside a drop in other authorities including East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, Argyll and Bute and Inverclyde.

But the picture was not the same across Dumfries and Galloway. A total of 15 wards in the area reported population growth above the Scottish average including parts of Lochmaben, Lockerbie, Annandale, Annan, Eastriggs, Dumfries Central and Gretna.

Population decline was prevalent in Georgetown, Calside, Locharbriggs, New Abbey, Lochside and Lincluden, Moffat and most of Machars South and Rhins North.

Some areas also experienced growth but below the Scottish average, such as sections of Gatehouse, Dalbeattie and Upper Nithsdale.

A 1.9 per cent increase in net migration in the region was also recorded over the ten year period, alongside a 3.6 per cent drop recorded as due to ‘natural change’.

Deaths in the region exceeded births, with 1,932 logged.

Figures also show that of 69,776 households in the NHS board area, 30,095 households consist of two or more adults, with 24,225 single adults and a further 3,623 single parent homes.

Pete Whitehouse, Director of Statistical Services at the National Records, said: “This report provides a review of statistics, trends and analysis of Scotland’s population for 2019. Given the impact of Covid-19, we have included the latest analysis of deaths involving Covid-19.

“Together, these provide a picture of Scotland prior to the pandemic and a summary of the spread and impact of Covid-19 on mortality.

“The population was at its highest, and births and marriages were the lowest ever recorded.”