Concerns have been raised about a second spike in coronavirus cases after positive tests linked to the Station Hotel in Penrith and a rise in infections.

The management of the hotel have notified Eden District Council that a visitor had later tested positive for coronavirus.

Contact tracers in the district have discovered links between a group of pubgoers visiting the Station Hotel on July 25 and July 26, with some of the revellers testing positive for Covid-19. The local authority has asked anyone visiting the hotel on those dates to seek a coronavirus test.

The outbreak comes just days after the borough was placed on a Public Health England watch list of areas highly impacted by coronavirus. Eden has been listed as an “Area of Concern” alongside Peterborough and Leicester.

There have been a total of 59 new positive cases confirmed in the county in the last week which is an increase of 12 on the week before. In the week up to Tuesday, local contact teams had traced 47 cases and identified 114 contacts.

Cumbria County Council’s director of public health Colin Cox said: “While this very slight upward trend is not what we want to see, the numbers remain very low.

“We are not seeing the levels that have prompted the tightening of measures we have seen in other parts of the north west, most recently in Greater Manchester.

“We are also seeing increasing activity by our Cumbria teams who are actively contact tracing, and we are pleased to see both Carlisle and Eden as two of the highest areas for the number of tests being carried out in England.

"It is also very clear that the virus is still circulating and being passed between local people in the community, so we must not think that the risk has gone away.

“Only by continued vigilance and following the basic public health guidance will we prevent the number of people being infected growing again. We are urging people living in, and visiting, Cumbria to adhere to social distancing guidelines, wash your hands regularly and to provide good quality contact details to any venues you visit.

"If you are getting a taxi we would also advise you to wear a mask and wear them in shops and other indoor settings where it is advised.”

Liberal Democrat county councillor for Dalston and Burgh Trevor Allison said: “I am concerned about young people socialising without precautions.

“I wouldn’t like to think we’re going to see a second wave. I can see this going on well past the end of the year.”