MEMBERS of the public will have access to free lateral flow tests (LFTs) in Northwich this week as the council's pop-up Covid testing unit comes to town.

As of today, the mobile testing unit will be based at the Barons Quay Shopping Centre.

It will open between 9am and 3.30pm each day until Friday, March 11.

There is also a fixed LFT testing facility located at the Dingle Centre in Winsford.

Attendance at any of these testing facilities do not require an appointment and all sites offer home testing kits to take away although supplies are limited.

A Cheshire West and Chester Council spokesman said: "The current approach to testing in the borough is not part of a surge testing programme but is in response to testing where Covid-19 rates are relatively high.

"The pop-up testing units will provide a free LFT test to anyone who does not have any Covid-19 symptoms. 

"This type of test is good at picking up people who have no symptoms but are infected with Covid-19 and so may be unknowingly spreading the disease.

"Government recommends that everyone tests for Covid-19 twice a week regardless of whether they have been vaccinated.

"Free home test kits are readily available at participating local pharmacies or online and are also available to collect at the pop-up testing units."

Anyone with Covid-19 symptoms should book a PCR test at: www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119.