Covid: Indian variant surge tackled as restrictions ease in parts of UK - BBC News
The government will increase testing in three English towns, as more of the economy opens up.
We've been hearing today about concerns around the Indian virus variant in Bolton and Blackburn. And how testing and vaccination is being sped up there, while testing is also surged in Bedford.

More than 6,200 people were vaccinated in Bolton at the weekend amid concerns over the Indian Covid-19 variant.

21-year-old Bolton resident Josie (pictured) took up the offer of a vaccine after the roll-out scheme was extended to all over-16s in the badly affected BL3 area.

Josie told BBC Radio 5 Live's Rachel Burden today: "I’ve wanted it for so long so I thought I’ll just go down and see if they’ll let me and thankfully they did."

Josie works in a supermarket and says even though staff wear masks and regularly sanitise, she does worry about her customers and feels “more comfortable serving them now I’ve got the vaccine".

“It’s been really hard being in the lockdown for so long like we have in Bolton, everyone has been clinging to that hope of going outside," she said. "I think the vaccine is going to help us stay on track for that, so long as everyone gets it."

GP and clinical director of Rumworth in Bolton, Dr Saveena Ghaie, spoke to 5 Live’s Nicky Campbell about what’s happening in the area.

"A lot of our residents live in multi-generational households, a lot of those young people might be passing it on to their elderly relatives.

"They were so pleased to have the jab that they really didn’t mind waiting in that wet weather," she said.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said the "vast majority" of Bolton locals who had been hospitalised in recent days had not taken up their offer of a vaccine, including people in intensive care.

Dr Ghaie said she thinks that's due to "a lack of information or maybe scaremongering".

Listen to 5 Live on the free BBC Sounds app.