A MOTHER from Stroud says she was told to travel to Aberdeen Airport so her child could get a test for Covid-19.

Emma Callaghin's son developed a cough while at school on Tuesday and was sent home and told to go for a test.

After her husband and two children were then turned away at a testing site in Gloucester, Emma said she was advised by the Government’s online testing tool to travel to Scotland.

She said: "We run a business and have four children. Life is hectic and we had to close our shop for the day.

"My husband went with the children to Hempsted in Gloucester but they couldn't get a test there. 

"I looked online and that’s where it said to go to Aberdeen as the closest test site.

"It was so scary and my children were really upset."

After help from her son's school Emma and her two older boys managed to get a test at Dursley Rugby Club, which were all confirmed as negative.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “NHS Test and Trace is working and our capacity is the highest it has ever been but we are seeing a significant demand for tests including from people who do not have symptoms and are not otherwise eligible.

“New booking slots and home testing kits are made available daily for those who need them and we are targeting testing capacity at the areas that need it most, including those where there is an outbreak, and prioritising at-risk groups.

“Our laboratories are processing more than a million tests a week and we recently announced new facilities and technology to process results even faster. If you do not have symptoms and are not eligible to get a test you can continue to protect yourself if you wash your hands, wear a face covering and follow social distancing rules.”