The coronavirus testing scheme has once again come under fire after a person from Felixstowe was sent to Clacton to be swabbed.

The 40 mile round trip even took them past the testing centre at the A14/A12 junction at Copdock in on his way to Essex.

One person from Felixstowe who tried to book a test online said: "If I was travelling by boat, then Clacton would be my nearest test centre.

"I tried to book online but was only given the option of going to Clacton so I called 119. The operator got the same results.

"They told me that it is not just my region – some people in Newcastle are being directed to test centres in Scotland instead of ones in the city.

"I have symptoms so am going to get them checked out.

"But I can imagine that others would be put off by the prospect of two hours in the car – while driving past their actual nearest centre."

Andy Yacoub, CEO of Health Watch Suffolk, wants the flaws in its online booking system immediately reviewed.

The Suffolk health boss said in a statement: "The system needs to be improved because this is a stupid situation.

"If you are living within a certain test centre and you are offered another one which is further away then you need to have a way of bringing that to notice. Whatever the algorithm is that is being used is obviously failing to take into consideration transport, travel times and geography."

"I will bring it to the notice of the director of public health Suffolk and ask whether or not they are aware of a number of these situations and ask what they will do to address it."

The government coronavirus test booking website shows the Essex resort is just 13.8 miles away from Felixstowe, but does not take into account the rivers in between.

The criticism comes day after a Port of Felixstowe contractor expressed fears about the test and trace system after failing to be contacted after being tested positive for Covid-19. Full story here...

There have been 902 confirmed cases of people testing positive for the coronavirus in the East Suffolk district, with a cumulative total of 2,766 in Suffolk. 325,642 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the UK (pillar 1 and pillar 2 testing). Of those who tested positive for COVID-19 in the UK, 41,429 have died (within 28 days of positive test) across all settings.