A COVID-19 testing site is being moved after causing "ground damage" to a city park.

The testing site at Preston Park in Brighton is being relocated to The Level later this week.

The relocated site will continue to offer the same testing capacity and facilities with similar accessibility.

Announcing the move, Brighton and Hove City Council said that 12 months of continuous operation of the current site at Preston Park has led to "some ground damage", and that relocation would allow land repair work to take place and for the ground to recover in time for events later this year, including Brighton and Hove Pride.

The testing site will be located on the west triangle of The Level, allowing for the remainder of the area to continue to be used as a public open space.

It will be self-contained within a fenced boundary and have 24-hour security provided by the UK Health Security Agency.

Bookings for walk-in tests at the site will be suspended for two days between February 10 and 11 during the relocation, but testing capacity remains available at other sites.

Residents are also able to book PCR tests to be sent directly to their homes.

A spokesman for the council said: "As a council, we are committed to the health and wellbeing of the city. Access to Covid-19 testing for people in Brighton and Hove remains of critical importance".

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