A NEW walk-in coronavirus local testing site opens in Darwen tomorrow on Railway Road car park.

The site will open 2pm to 5pm on the first day before reverting to 8am to 8pm seven days a week from Friday.

A Blackburn with Darwen council spokesman said: "We understand a new Darwen site may cause some confusion for some residents with the town only having recently come out of tougher restrictions.

"However residents have been requesting a testing site in Darwen to complement those in Blackburn and the new one is simply part of the overall drive on case finding across the borough and efforts to keep the virus at bay.

"Cases remain lower in Darwen and the new site is not a precursor to any imminent return to a localised lockdown.

"The new centre is for pedestrians and so there won’t be any parking available on site.

"To get tested you will need to register beforehand online or call 119. Once registered you will get a code which you should take with you so staff can attach it to your test."

Darwen councillor Roy Davies said:"I am pleased Darwen now has coronavirus centre.

"It will make it easier for elderly people and the disabled feeling a bit rough to pop round an get a test.

"The centre will also help keep track of the virus the town and keep it out of special measures."