A NEW walk-in coronavirus testing centre has opened in Bury.

The site is located in Pinfold Lane, Whitefield, and is third to open in the borough.

Opening times for the centre are 10am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, and residents are being asked to only attend if they have Covid-19 symptoms

It is one of five additional centres which are planned to come on line in the coming weeks.

These testing centres will be located around the borough including in Radcliffe, Red Vales, Prestwich and Ramsbottom.

Councillor Andrea Simpson, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “Our staff and partners have worked incredibly hard to get these centres up and running, and help meet the huge demand for tests due to people’s difficulties – and often inability – to get a test through the national system.

“We were keen to open a centre for residents in the south of the borough, and we have plans to open more in the coming weeks.”

Speaking to the Bury Times, Bury Council Leader, Councillor Eamonn O'Brien said it is hoped the testing centres in Radcliffe and Redvales will be open by October 8.

Opening dates for the sites in Prestwich and Ramsbottom are yet to be confirmed.

He added: "In the meantime we will be looking at using the mobile testing facility we have to focus on any sort of spike or higher risk in any particular area."

The Whitefield testing site joins two walk-in centres recently opened in Bury at Chesham Fold Community Centre and The Mosses Community Centre.

In their first seven days of opening, last week, these two centres carried out 1,799 tests.

However, many people faced long queues and lengthy waits to get a test.

In order to cut waiting times and ensure as many people as possible that need a test can get one, Bury Council is urging only those with coronavirus symptoms ­— such as a high temperature, new continuous cough, or loss or change to sense of smell or taste ­— to attend.

Cllr Simpson said: “Our walk-in centres have proved so popular that people are often having to wait in long queues.

"That’s why we are urging people to only turn up for a test if they have symptoms – if you don’t have symptoms, please do not come for a test.”

For the latest date information on testing availability in Bury and further afield, visit: bury.gov.uk/coronavirus-testing or call 0161 253 5515, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays).