CHILDREN at the Newtown Primary School in Trowbridge have put their artistic skills to good use during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The pupils, all children of keyworkers, have created around 50 bright and colourful pictures to decorate the NHS Test and Trace Centre behind the Greyhound public house in Mortimer Street, Trowbridge.

The testing centre is being operated in partnership with G4S and will offer self-administered tests.

Mrs Catherine Tawn, the Newtown school’s assistant head, said: “The children were asked by Alan Wright, the manager of the Test & Trace Centre to draw and paint some pictures to brighten up the inside of the centre.

“The children attending school for the lockdown period were asked to create some pictures with nice, bright, happy themes.

“We chose a spring theme with flowers and the children have created some nice paintings and we delivered them just before the half-term break.”

Mr Wright said: "We weren't expecting the standard of artwork the children produced. It's fantastic."

He plans to return to the school this week to present certificates to the children as a thank you for creating the pictures.

The Mortimer Street Test & Trace Centre opened last year to provide Covid-19 coronavirus tests for people walking and driving in.

The centre is part of the Government’s UK-wide drive to continue to improve the accessibility of coronavirus testing for local communities.

Testing is only available for those with coronavirus symptoms – a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.

Anyone attending an appointment at a walk-through test site will be provided with guidance on getting to and from the test site safely, with additional support being available for vulnerable groups and people with disabilities.