A RURAL borough is offering free rapid coronavirus tests to all residents, visitors and workers.

Ribble Valley Council has set up three new hubs to offer the crucial Covid-19 checks as the Indian variant spreads in Lancashire.

Free lateral flow tests are available from a new permanent centre at the council offices car park in Church Walk in Clitheroe and pop-up centres in Whalley and Longridge.

Rapid testing is being offered to everyone whether with or without symptoms.

Ribble Valley Council leader Cllr Stephen Atkinson said: “As we continue to make good progress on the vaccine programme and with the roadmap to easing restrictions underway, regular rapid testing is even more important to make sure those efforts are not wasted.

“Reclaiming our lost freedoms and getting back to normal hinges on us all getting tested regularly.”

The centre in Clitheroe is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm and Saturdays from 10am to 2pm.

The pop-up centres operate at Longridge Civic Hall on Tuesdays and Fridays from noon to 6pm and Whalley Village Hall on Tuesdays from 9am to 4pm.

As well as getting tested onsite, you can also collect up to two boxes containing seven testing kits each for use in the home or workplace.