A SURGE coronavirus testing drive has been launched in Darwen as cases rise in the town.

A new mobile testing site for those without symptoms in Darwen Market Square was launched today.

It will be open from Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm, until June 26.

Blackburn with Darwen, council engagement teams have also started operating in the town.

Darwen East ward is now in the top three areas of the borough for rates of coronavirus.

Everyone who lives, works or studies in Darwen is being encouraged to take a PCR test for Covid-19.

Ewood Park also has a mobile testing site, outside the Darwen End, which is open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm until Sunday June 27.

This weekend additional surge testing teams will be out in the Wensley Fold area of Blackburn.

Borough public health director Professor Dominic Harrison, said: “We now have cases of the Delta variant of Coronavirus in all wards within Blackburn with Darwen.

“Surge testing is used to identify asymptomatic people who are carrying the virus without knowing it. We are finding that this is quite common among people who have had their Covid vaccinations. This is vital to turning our rates around."