A COVID vaccination centre based at a Crewe motorbike showroom has warned people to stay away if they do not have appointments for jabs.

Clinicians at the centre run by Hollowood Chemists in West Street stress they are not operating a drop-in facility after claims people have received vaccinations without NHS invitations.

Hollowood is one of two pharmacy-based vaccination sites that has opened in the last week. It is administering vaccinations from Crewe Honda Centre, whose managing director, Roger Morris, offered his premises free of charge to the NHS.

Clinical Lead Jainil Patel is urging people to only attend the centre if they have an appointment or if they are health workers or social care staff.

He says "misinformation" posted on social media about vaccine doses being thrown away when people have not turned up for their appointments is not correct.

"There is no drop in service. If you are within the top four priority groups, please wait to receive an invitation or letter from the National Booking Service from which you can make an appointment at the centre," he explained in a Facebook post.

"At which point we will be delighted to vaccinate you and take care of you, like we have for hundreds so far. Please do not turn up and make yourself more exposed to COVID and make a wasted journey."

The bike showroom was undergoing renovation when it was approached by the pharmacy to help its programme out. The site was then approved by the NHS and Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)

Vaccination stations and a waiting area have been set up in the showroom and medics began delivering jabs last Saturday (January 23).

Mr Patel added: "It has been a pleasure to vaccinate those of you who have come in so far and we look forward to vaccinating the rest of you and keeping our community safe. Please help us help the most vulnerable."

The Hollowood centre and Alsager Pharmacy have joined Andrew's Pharmacy in Macclesfield in assisting the vaccination roll-out.

Cheshire CCG says the new pharmacy sites are supporting efforts to get the vaccine out to those in high-risk groups.

In line with national guidance, care home residents have been targeted first, along with those aged over 80, frontline health and social care workers and those classed as clinically extremely vulnerable.

The CCG states that with good progress being made across those groups, the focus is shifting to people aged 70 and over.