REPORTS of children with coronavirus symptoms in Bolton skyrocketed in September as the schools reopened fully, NHS figures show.

A total of 927 cases were logged with possible Covid-19 symptoms in those aged 18 and under in the NHS Bolton CCG area in September – nine times more than in August.

This was the second-highest monthly total recorded for children, behind only the 1,280 who reported symptoms in March when the outbreak began.

Education chiefs have moved to reassure parents that the "classroom" is a safe environment as the country battles a second wave of coronavirus ­— and add that schools are helping to bring the local infection rate down.

In Bolton the number of schools and early years settings with staff or children self-isolating has fallen slightly to 16 per cent down from 19 per cent two weeks ago.

Town hall chiefs stressed that schools are covid secure and say evidence "clearly shows infections are happening in the community".

Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Cllr Anne Galloway, said:“I want to reassure parents that the classroom is a safe place for children to be as we deal with the second wave of the coronavirus.

“We know from the data that infections are happening in the wider community and not in schools where rigorous COVID secure measures are in place.

“But it is schools which are acting quickly to identify potential cases, encourage testing and prevent further infection in the community by ensuring people are isolating where necessary.

“By doing so, our schools are actively contributing to the efforts to bring the infection rate in Bolton under control and protect families.”

No schools have had to close completely and overall the the number of pupils self-isolating has levelled off.

Across England, the number of children being reported with symptoms rose from just 21,000 in August to 186,000 in September.

Saul Faust, professor of paediatric immunology and infectious diseases at the University of Southampton, said children and family members always have respiratory viral symptoms in the autumn/ winter.

A rise in symptoms being reported, and tests requested, is what most experts would therefore have predicted, he said.

He added: "Children remain relatively unaffected by Covid – but there is no choice but to test on symptoms as otherwise cases will be missed.

"Parents are not overanxious – they are asking for tests per national guidance."

Official guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care says parents should only book a test if their child has a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss of smell or taste.

But they do not need one if they have just a runny nose, are sneezing or are feeling unwell.

In Bolton, the number of adult users logging symptoms also increased significantly between August and September – from 716 to 1,791 – but this was not as steep as the rise among children.