The Covid-19 mobile vaccination centre was well received in Hucknall today with good take up from local residents.

The bus stopped at Tesco, Ashgate Road where it was mainly used by the under 30s with some pensioners also getting their second jab.

According to the latest Public Health England statistics parts of Hucknall have up to 20% lower vaccination levels compared to areas like West Bridgford. These shocking figures led to Hucknall's Ashfield Independent councillors pushing for the mobile vaccination centre to visit the town.

Councillor John Wilmott thanked the vaccination team and vowed to continue the Ashfield Independent campaign to improve vaccination levels in the town.

He said: "It was great to see health bosses acting on our concerns. I am pleased that the take up was good and we intend to bring the bus back to another area of Hucknall. It's imperative that people protect themselves and others against coronavirus. The staff are slaloming around the county to bring this service to areas that need it. That's why we asked for the bus to visit in the first place – to help protect our residents. I was delighted to meet and thank the staff for coming to town."

The bus came to Hucknall on the day new self-isolation rules come into force in England and Northern Ireland. The new rules align the countries with Wales and Scotland, by allowing those who are double vaccinated to avoid self-isolating if they come into contact with someone who tests positive for coronavirus. From today, people who have had both doses of a coronavirus vaccine, or are under 18, will not have to spend 10 days in quarantine if they are a contact of a positive case.

Council Leader Jason Zadrozny said: "I'd like to thank the vaccination team for visiting Tesco today. I'm happy that there was a good take up of jabs. Latest figures however show that Ashfield has the 10th highest number of positive coronavirus cases in the whole country this week. It shows that we cannot be complacent and need to follow guidelines and advice from government.

"As a Council, we are working hard to identify ways to protect our residents. Our Councillors in Hucknall pushed for this bus to come. We are currently working on other locations in the Ashfield District for the bus to go to. We will certainly be making the case for another visit to Hucknall."

"I'd like to put on record my thanks to the Hucknall Nub News website for assisting in promoting the vaccination bus's visit. Through this pandemic, we have worked with the media to publicise our response and help that is available. I've no doubt that the publicity Tom Surgay and his team gave to the bus helped improve the attendance."