A new walk-through testing centre for people displaying symptoms of Covid-19 coronavirus has opened in Croydon as the borough continues to grapple with high numbers of new cases.

The testing site will be hosted in the car park of Croydon Sports Arena (SE25 4QL) and will test anyone with symptoms who books an appointment in advance.

Coronavirus symptoms include a high temperature, new and continuous cough or loss or change in your sense of taste or smell.

While the ongoing lockdown designed to slow the spread of Covid-19 is seeing the numbers of new cases fall in Croydon and around the UK, more than 1,000 people are dying each day across the country at present within a month of testing positive for the virus according to Public Health England (PHE) data.

"The new site is situated so it is easily accessible without a car.

"Those being tested will be required to follow public health measures, including social distancing, not travelling by taxi or public transport, practicing good personal hygiene and wearing a face covering throughout, including while travelling to and from the testing centre.

"Anyone attending an appointment at a walk-through test site will be provided with guidance on getting to and from the test site safely, with additional support for vulnerable groups and people with disabilities," a spokesperson from the government's Department of Health and Social Care said.

"New walk-in sites like this one makes it even easier to get a test no matter where you live.

"If you have symptoms of coronavirus, I urge you to book a test today and follow the advice of NHS Test and Trace if you are contacted to protect others and stop the spread of the virus," Health Minister Lord Bethell said.

In Croydon as a whole, there were 1,908 new cases of Covid-19 confirmed in the week up to January 24.

That was 996 or 34.3 down from the previous week's figure.

The borough's 'rolling rate' of new cases per 100,000 people stood at 493.4 according to PHE.

For information on getting tested for Covid-19, click here.