Pharmacies are teaming up with a Cumbrian company to offer their customers Covid-19 home testing and travel certificates for trips abroad.

Dalston Pharmacies ­– which has four branches in and around Carlisle – is already selling test kits supplied by Circular 1 Health – a company founded in March 2020 by Scotby man, Stuart MacLennan.

A number of chemists across the county are also signing up to the Circular 1 Health scheme, including Urwin Cumbria Ltd with its branches in Seaton, Seacliffe and Mirehouse, as well as J.Cowper Chemists in Penrith.

Circular1 Health is committed to supporting the local economy, through its investment in various labs and next generation sequencing technologies throughout Cumbria.

With its head office in Warwick Bridge, near Carlisle, it now employs about 220 staff, and operates seven testing laboratories nationwide at sites including Sellafield and Barrow-in-Furness.

CEO Stuart MacLennan said: “With the vaccination programme making great progress and a clear roadmap out of the pandemic now in place, people’s thoughts are returning to more regular life activities like booking holidays, and socialising with friends and family once social distancing restrictions are eased.

“This partnership we’ve developed with pharmacies, which we’re looking to expand, is a great way for people to get the required Covid tests with travel certificates, which they can easily buy at the pharmacies who have signed up with us.

"They can then just return them in one of the touch free collection units there, knowing that these will go straight to one of our labs and get their test results and certificates the next day without any worry.

“If you’re planning foreign trips for work and leisure, then the international travel clearance that is provided with this package, subject of course to a negative test, is essential.”

Pharmacies wanting to find out more can call Tom Anderson, Circular1 Health business development manager, on 07904 497741, or email Tom.Anderson@circular1.com.

For a list of pharmacies taking part across Cumbria, visit circular1.com/pharmacy-locations.