Hundreds of people have been tested at a drive-thru coronavirus testing centre in Watford - which will now open twice a week.

Watford Borough Council says hundreds of residents have used the weekly 'pop-up' test centre in Watford Leisure Centre Central, Hempstead Road, since Everyone Active made it available for Covid-19 testing each Sunday late last month.

East and North Hertfordshire CCG said that to help meet the need for drive-thru testing in Hertfordshire, the test centre in Watford will now open on Thursdays as well as Sundays starting from tomorrow.

Like on Sundays, the ‘pop-up’ centre will open from 10am – 4pm each Thursday – and people should book for a test the day before on the Government’s website.

Those who are eligible to have a coronavirus test include anyone aged over five years old - and are in the first few days of having suspected symptoms.

Health authorities have warned that tests are only "effective" if you are in your first three days of coronavirus symptoms - most commonly a cough or fever.

With Watford's drive-thru test centre opening for another day during the week, Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor said: “We know from other countries how important testing is to beating Covid-19 and making it as easy as possible for those with symptoms to get to a centre is one way we can help.

“Everyone Active has stepped up to make the leisure centre available and hundreds of Watford people have now been able to get a test close to home rather than driving miles as they had to initially.

“The good news is that there are now additional sessions in Watford on Thursdays so people who are feeling unwell have an extra opportunity to get tested. We must all work together to tackle this virus.”

The weekly ‘pop-up’ testing centre in Watford is not the only centre to have opened in Hertfordshire, with there being two other sites in Hertford and Stevenage.

All three sites have had the support of the military since they were opened.

Gary Foley, Everyone Active Contract Manager for Watford, said: “We have been offering our facilities at Central, right in the heart of the town, for a mobile military testing centre every Sunday since 26 April.

“This includes not just the car park for the testing but also our multipurpose room, which we are opening up for the military so they can rest and recharge throughout the day as they are really busy.

“Everyone Active is delighted to be making this contribution to rolling out more testing especially as tests have now been extended.”

To book a coronavirus test click here.