Walk-in centres for coronavirus testing to be trialled in the North West

Walk-in centres for coronavirus testing are to be set up to make it easier for people without cars to get tested for the virus.

Rochdale is among six towns and cities across the country where it is being trialled.

The exact location of the centres has not been confirmed by officials but one is understood to be on a basketball court, and there have been reports they will spring up in empty shops and car parks.

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A source at the Department of Health and Social Care said officials were working on "walk through testing sites in England for people without cars".

The source said that previously the push was to have testing sites out of the way so there were not "huge" numbers of potentially infected people travelling into the centre of towns.

But they added that now incidence is lower, they can look at ways to safely provide testing "in the heart of communities", in a way that is more easy and accessible to people.