Surge testing will begin again in South Gloucestershire this morning after cases of the Brazilian Covid variant were discovered in the area.

Residents who live in five postcode areas, who are aged over 16 and do not have symptoms of Covid-19, are invited to come forward for testing.

The identified postcode areas fall within Bradley Stoke, Patchway and Little Stoke – and are different to those that were part of the previous community surge testing programme last month.

The postcode sectors are:

• BS32 0

• BS32 8

• BS32 9

• BS34 5

• BS34 6

The testing will be provided at two new community surge testing sites, open 9am-6pm, every day from Monday, March 1, which are primarily designed for vehicles.

Additionally, community-based Collect & Drop locations will open on Monday, from 9am-5pm, allowing residents to walk-in to collect a test kit, take it home and complete the test there, and return it for processing.

The programme is scheduled to run for one week and end on Sunday, March 7.

The drive-in community surge testing sites will be located at:

• Stoke Gifford Parkway Park & Ride, Huntsground Road, Stoke Gifford, BS34 8HP

• The Mall Coach Park, The Mall Cribbs Causeway, Highwood Rd, Patchway, BS34 5DJ

The first two community-based Collect & Drop sites, which will be open from Monday, March 1, will be located at:

• Little Stoke Community Centre, Little Stoke Lane, BS34 6HR

• Patchway Community Centre, Rodway Road, Patchway BS34 5PF

On Tuesday, March 2 two additional Collect & Drop sites will be located at:

• Bradley Stoke Jubilee Centre, Savages Wood Road BS32 8HL (this site will not be open on Friday, March 5)

• Baileys Court Activity Centre, Baileys Court Road, Bradley Stoke BS32 8B

The one-off testing will use PCR tests, which are analysed in laboratories, rather than lateral flow tests.