People aged over 16 who live in North Tyneside will be able get tested for Covid from Saturday as part of a programme to try and stop the spread of the Indian variant.

Increased testing - or surge testing as it's known - will be carried out at units in North Shields and Wallsend for residents who aren't showing symptoms, including those who've had their vaccine.

It follows a rise in cases of the so-called Indian variant.

Covid-19 cases in the borough have risen from 22 to 53 per 100,000 people in the last week and North Tyneside Council believes the 19 confirmed cases of the variant in the region will increase.

Public Health Director Wendy Burke said: "We will be offering additional testing to identify any further cases of Covid-19 and in particular the variant, so that we can support people to self-isolate and identify their contacts.

"In addition, we will also be making available better accessibility to the vaccination programme and we will be doing more work to try to get those who haven't yet accessed their first dose of vaccine to come forward."

North Tyneside Council and the NHS are also looking to create additional appointments for those eligible to get vaccinated.

Ms Burke said: "We won't be offering the vaccine to anybody who is not currently eligible so it will continue to be restricted to the people who are eligible through the national roll-out.

"What we're trying to do is identify over-50s and those in the 'at risk' category who haven't yet had a first dose."

The two mobile testing units will be open between 10:00 and 16:00 and an appointment is not needed.

One will be located at Wallsend Forum, behind the Anson pub, and the other in North Shields town centre.

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BBC Sport

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While carrying out enquiries into the alleged fraud, members of the local neighbourhood policing team began renovating it in their own time.

Image source, Seaham and Easington Police

With the help of local businesses who supplied materials and specialist services, the garden received a full makeover spanning paving, fencing and plumbing.

Image source, Seaham and Easington Police

Inspector Joanne Malkin said: “This case has really pulled at the heartstrings of the team, and we were determined to do what we could to make things better for the family, who I’m thrilled to say are delighted with the result.

“Everybody pulled together, and what we’ve achieved here reminds us of why we came into policing in the first place, and what a remarkable community it is that we serve.”

Image source, Seaham and Easington Police

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