People who must leave their homes to make essential visits during lockdown are being urged to make getting tested part of their weekly routine by Staffordshire County Council.

Staffordshire's Community Testing Centres, one in each district and borough, are open seven days a week for people without symptoms.

The council says the centres being open over weekends will give people having to make essential visits through the week more options to get tested regularly.

Dr Johnny McMahon Staffordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing, said: "Everyone in Staffordshire should be staying at home wherever possible.

"However, there are some people who cannot work from home and some people who are making essential visits.

"Many of these permitted visits are to carry out vital caring responsibilities or fetching essential shopping and medical supplies - often to the most vulnerable people.

"For these people we are strongly urging to get tested regularly.

"Getting a test is quick, simple, free and now seven days a week. Making it part of your weekly routine may well protect the people you interact with on a day-to-day basis and the wider community at large.

"1 in 3 people do not display any symptoms – getting tested regularly will give you the peace of mind that you are not unwittingly spreading the virus to people at the most risk."

Biddulph's community testing centre, located at Biddulph Valley Leisure Centre on Thames Drive, opened on Monday.

For the full list of testing centres and hotspot areas in the county, click here.