The leader of Brent Council urged residents to take extra care to “prevent a second lockdown” in the region following a rise in Covid-19 cases.

Cllr Muhammed Butt said people must “pay maximum attention to our surroundings at all times” to avoid a return to people not being able to visit each other’s homes again.

This includes regular hand washing, wearing a face covering where required, getting tested if you have Covid-19 symptoms, and staying at home if you or anyone you have had contact with recently has the virus.

It comes following an increase in cases in Brent – according to the council, 41 people have tested positive over the past two weeks.

Cllr Butt said: “We are all rightly worried about a second wave of the virus and the recent increase in cases, which have also been seen elsewhere across the country.

“With this in mind I am asking for your help to prevent a second wave of the deadly virus in Brent.

“I know we all want to get back to doing the things we love. However, we cannot do that if cases continue to rise.

“Let’s not throw away the hard work and sacrifices made by so many of our friends, neighbours and loved ones during lockdown.”

Figures from the Office for National Statistics showed Brent was the worst affected area in England in terms of excess deaths at the peak of the pandemic – in the week ending April 17, mortality rates were 358 per cent above normal.