MOTORISTS are being warned that the Longfield Centre car park in Prestwich will shut from Monday to make way for a coronavirus testing centre.

The whole of the car park will be off-limits to vehicles and will only partially reopen once the testing centre is up an running later this month.

Council bosses say that alternative parking is available at Fairfax Road, Clifton Road and Chapel Street.

The testing centre, run by the Department of Health and Social Care, will add to a number of testing centres available in the borough, which include walk-through, drive-through and bookable appointments.

A further centre is planned for Ramsbottom to open in early November to ensure all parts of the borough are covered.

The Prestwich pop-up centre will be open seven days a week and will be by appointment only, bookable via the national portal: https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

Health bosses are reminding residents that only people with the symptoms of coronavirus should book a test.

Symptoms are, a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.

Cllr Andrea Simpson, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “We are working hard to ensure that anyone from Bury that needs a test can get one, at a location close to where they live. We are really pleased to have an additional centre due to open in the south of the borough later in the month and thank local people for their patience as this is set up.

“Please only request a test if you have symptoms and, if you book an appointment that you decide you don’t need, please cancel it to free it up for someone else who needs a test.”

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