A mum of three from South Yorkshire has spoken of her anxiety after being offered a covid-19 test in Bolton which she declined while people in the town were unable to book tests.

Fay Tattershall, of Thurnscoe, Barnsley was initially offered a slot at a testing site 60 miles away in Bolton, on September 12, after her children became unwell and she began showing symptoms.

On the same day she was then offered at test in Oldham, 40 miles from her home and another area with additional restrictions applied due to its high infection rate.

Her MP has slammed the testing system for sending people from long distances away to’ towns like Bolton already identified as Covid hotspots’.

The test offer came as many people in Bolton, which is still reporting the highest level of covid-19 infections in the UK, were unable to access testing in the town.

Mrs Tattershall tried again on September 15, and managed to book a test in Leeds on the same day.

She travelled with her husband Jamie their daughters – Libby, 11, Ruby, 13, and Brodie, 14, only to be told they were not properly registered, and could take a test but would not receive the results.

The family returned home without getting tested and phoned 119 as advised.

The operator said they were aware of a website glitch that sends users to the start of the booking process when no slots are available.

Mrs Tattershall said: “We’ve been stuck in limbo and it’s caused a lot of anxiety. It’s really disappointing and so confusing.

“It should be easy to get a test when you need one but it’s been really difficult. And we’re lucky – we have the internet and a car.

“We went to Leeds for a test and there was nobody there. The staff were all just stood around. He said I can test you but because we haven’t got your details they couldn’t send the results back.”

While they wait for test results, Jamie, who is self employed, cannot work and their daughters cannot go to school.

After five days of trying, Mrs Tattershall managed to book a test in her home town of Barnsley online for September 17, and is now hoping they get the results back quickly.

The government has been criticised after people with symptoms have been unable to book tests, even in some of the worst affected areas, or have been offered appointments miles away.

Mrs Tattershall contacted her MP John Healey for help with getting her family tested.

Mr Healey said the government was “in denial about the scale of the problem”.

He added: “With cases on the increase, children back at school and the government telling everyone to get back to work it is vital that the test and trace system is working properly."