A MOBILE coronavirus testing unit has been set up in Northumberland's worst affected council ward over the past seven days for coronavirus cases.

Cases of the virus in Haltwhistle have skyrocketed in recent weeks, with 53 cases confirmed in the area over the course of a week up to Wednesday.

It means the ward has a rate of infection of 1,099 per 100,000.

Neighbouring Haydon and Hadrian is the second worst-affected wards, with 31 cases over the same period - a rate of 707 cases per 100,000.

In response, a mobile testing unit has been set up at Hadrian Enterprise Park in Haltwhistle to make access to testing easier for local residents.

The new unit, which was set up on Tuesday will be operating every day from 9am - 3pm and will be in place until Monday.

Residents have been reminded that appointments must be booked to get a test. Anyone who develops symptoms should self-isolate and book a test immediately by going to nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.

The council are looking into possible reasons behind the increase in testing.

It comes as cases across the county as a whole continue to fall.

There were 483 cases confirmed across Northumberland in the seven days up to December 7, a rate of 150.8 cases per 100,000 residents.

This compares to 155.18 in the week beginning November 30, and 170.17 the week before that.

However, the Hexham Constituency - which, until recently, had seen a comparatively low number of cases - has seen a spike in cases in several areas.

The county council has reminded residents that Northumberland Communities Together (NCT) is also available to provide support to anyone affected by the pandemic.