Locally led testing for people without coronavirus symptoms is set to be rolled out across Warwickshire in the next few weeks, but will start in the North Warwickshire district.

The first test centre in the county is to be based in the district and will be opening on Tuesday 8 December at Water Orton Community Hall.

Fast-turnaround lateral flow test kits supplied by NHS Test and Trace will be used for testing in a bid to identify undiagnosed cases and stop people 'unwittingly spreading the virus'.

Further centres for mass testing are set to be opened in Nuneaton, Bedworth, Leamington, Rugby and Stratford. However, there is yet to be an announcement of an official date for when Warwick District will be in receipt of a mass testing centre.

People aged 18 and over without symptoms of Covid-19 are invited to book a test by visiting this website.

The tests are available for booking between 8am and 8pm, Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. The service uses the fast turnaround lateral flow test kits, which can deliver results in around an hour.

Lateral flow antigen tests are a new kind of technology that can be used to test a higher proportion of people without symptoms, better enabling us to identify and isolate more people who are at high likelihood of spreading virus and break the chains of transmission.

Only people without Covid-19 symptoms should book a test. Anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 – a high temperature, a new continuous cough or a change to their sense of taste or smell – must self-isolate and book a test via the government's website or by calling 119 as usual.

Health Minister Lord Bethell said: "We've already come so far since first setting up a national testing programme at an unprecedented pace to help counter COVID-19, but we continue to strive to go further, faster.

"Innovations such as lateral flow testing hold the key to the next phase of our ambition to see mass, rapid testing available to people across the country.

"I'm delighted that Warwickshire County Council along with colleagues at North Warwickshire Borough Council are working with us to pilot the latest technology in Water Orton, and I look forward to seeing the fruits of their labour, both in helping target the virus locally, and helping find ways to roll this technology out further soon."