BOLTON holidaymakers planning to visit Wales over the Bank Holiday should not cross the border without a negative Covid-19 test, the nation's First Minister has said.

Mark Drakeford has urged people from coronavirus hotspots, including Bolton, to pack lateral-flow testing kits if visiting this weekend.

The Welsh Government said the message was directed at would-be holidaymakers including those from areas of England with high levels of the Indian variant in order to 'help keep Wales safe'.

The UK Government has advised Bolton residents to minimise travel out of their areas due to circulation of the mutated strain of Covid-19.

But Westminster has stopped short of restricting people from being able to travel out of the area, with the late spring bank holiday weekend starting on Saturday.

On Wednesday Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said he would not ask people living in Bolton to 'rip up plans' to travel to Wales but to 'try to minimise travel'.

And Bolton Council leader, Cllr David Greenhalgh, said: "People should not be cancelling their holidays."

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said that the Welsh tourism businesses will be looking forward to a busy week and the start of the summer season.

He said: “I urge anyone planning a break in Wales from an area with higher rates of coronavirus, to test themselves regularly, using the free Covid-19 lateral flow tests, before they travel.

“Only those who have a negative test result and no symptoms of coronavirus should travel.

“Everyone coming to Wales from areas with a higher prevalence of coronavirus should bring lateral flow testing kits with them to continue regular testing while on holiday – this is an additional measure to help keep Wales safe.”

There have been more than 3,200 cases of the India variant identified in England, while there are only 57 cases in Wales.