ALL staff and children at two primary schools in Herefordshire are being tested for coronavirus in a bid to stop the spread.

Luston and Shobdon primary schools, both near Leominster, are closed until further notice due a "relatively small number" of confirmed coronavirus cases.

Herefordshire Council's outbreak control team has now said all children at the two schools, as well as Shobdon's pre-school, should get a test to stop any further spread of Covid-19.

A letter to parents and carers at the school said: "It is acknowledged that the schools have worked extremely hard to put robust measures in place to minimise the risk of coronavirus spreading and there are only a relatively small number of confirmed cases.

"However, the involvement of three key settings warrants further measures to reduce the risk of transmission.

"We are therefore inviting staff and students that have not already tested positive for Covid-19 to attend the school for a screening test."

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The letter said the mass testing has been organised by Herefordshire Council and took place on Sunday, as well as today (Monday).

"We encourage you to take up this offer of testing as it is important to help us to identify and therefore limit any further spread of Covid-19," it added.

"The testing will involve self-swabbing under supervision and for the children this will need to be undertaken by the parent at the test site.

"By accepting the invitation to take part in the testing you are implying consent for the testing. This mass testing is for people without symptoms."

The two primary schools have a total of 185 pupils on roll, according to school inspectorate Ofsted.

A decision to close Luston Primary School was made on Friday, with executive headteacher Mary Freeman saying in a letter to parents: ""I will be informing Public Health England imminently and will advise about the re-opening date of the school.

"I appreciate this is very short notice but I am sending this email now to protect and support the school community."