Preston's coronavirus testing sites forced to close early due to overwhelming demand

Preston City Council said high demand has led to the early closure of both of its testing centres at Preston Markets and Moor Park this afternoon.

The council-run site in Moor Park Avenue opened for the first time this morning after replacing the previous mobile testing site at Issa Medical Centre in St Gregory Road, Deepdale.

Those already in the queue have been told to go home as no further tests can be administered.

A city council spokesman said: "Unfortunately, due to high demand and long queues, both community testing sites in Preston are now closed for today (Monday, September 14).

"No tests can be administered after 3pm as the swabs are collected for testing

"Apologies for the inconvenience but they'll be open again tomorrow."

The car park for the Moor Park Avenue testing centre was nearly full at 9am this morning, with a long line of worried parents queuing with children suffering from symptoms of COVID-19.

Both centres will reopen and resume testing at 10am tomorrow.

Testing at the council-run sites is only available to children aged over 5 years and families must be resident in Preston.