Further 77 coronavirus patients have died in hospitals in Black Country, Birmingham and Staffordshire

It means a total of 5,912 patients have now died in the region's hospitals after contracting the virus.

And a total of 1,085 care home residents have died with coronavirus.

NHS England announced a further 875 deaths on Tuesday, taking the death toll in the country's hospitals to 67,921.

Six deaths were confirmed at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, which runs New Cross Hospital, where the death toll is now 625.

Eighteen deaths were announced at the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs Sandwell General and City hospitals, where the death toll now stands at 872.

A further 15 deaths were recorded at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which runs the main hospitals in Stoke and Stafford, where there has now been 1,148 deaths.

Six deaths were confirmed at the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Walsall Manor Hospital, where there have been 551 deaths since the pandemic began.

And 25 more deaths were announced at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where the overall death toll increased to 2,039.

Seven new deaths were recorded at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Russells Hall Hospital, where the total remains 543.

A spokesman for NHS England said: "A further 875 people, who tested positive for the Coronavirus (Covid-19) have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 67,921.

"Patients were aged between 33 and 101 years old. All except 21 (aged 52 to 93 years old) had known underlying health conditions.

"Date of death ranges from 17 December to 25 January 2021 with the majority being on or after 16 January.

"Their families have been informed."