Residents of Frodsham, Helsby and the rest of west Cheshire can now access regular rapid testing kits to help prevent outbreaks of Covid-19.

Until 9 April, testing for people without symptoms was only available to key groups who could not work from home, had caring responsibilities or, from March, those who shared a household or bubble with someone who attends nursery, school or college.

Since asymptomatic testing began in Cheshire West and Chester in December, asymptomatic lateral flow tests (LFTs) have identified more than 500 positive cases that would not otherwise have been found.

As restrictions ease, the tests are being made available to everyone to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

Kits are available to pick up from Frodsham Library on Mondays between 2pm and 5pm, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10am until 1pm.

Holland Pharmacy in Kingsley also has lateral flow packs that will allow residents to carry out twice-weekly tests for three weeks, before coming to top up their supply once again.

Local residents can also visit a community testing centre, the closest to Frodsham being Stanney Oaks Leisure Centre in Ellesmere Port and Chester Cathedral.

Tests can be collected from some local pharmacies, including Runcorn's Bestway National Chemists, Asda and Freethorn Ltd in Murdishaw.

You can also order home test kits by visiting the GOV.UK website and clicking on the 'Testing and self-isolating' section.

Ian Ashworth, Director of Public Health at Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: "Rapid tests are now available to everyone as more places start to open – testing is a really important way of helping us to get on with a more normal life, alongside hands, face, space, fresh air and vaccination.

"We must remember to keep washing our hands, keep our distance from people we don't live with, wear face coverings in enclosed areas and meet people outside in the fresh air – remembering to only meet in groups of six or as two households.

"These rules, as well as doing a test twice a week, are still important, even if you have had one or two doses of the vaccine.

"We all have to play our part to keep each other safe and help us gradually return to a more normal way of life."

Anyone who tests positive using an LFT should self-isolate and arrange a PCR test to confirm the positive result. Book this by visiting the NHS website or calling 119.

If this confirmatory test is negative, self-isolation can stop. If it is positive that person and their household must self-isolate for 10 full days, starting on the day after the positive LFT.

LFTs are only for use by people without symptoms.

Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19, including a new, continuous cough, a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste or a high temperature, should also book a PCR test.

For full information about testing options available in Cheshire West and Chester and opening hours visit Cheshire West and Chester's Covid-19 testing page.