THE headteacher of Bolton School boy’s division has asked parents to make sure children have their coronavirus lateral flow tests amid the borough’s infection rate rise.

Philip Britton penned a letter on Sunday night reminding parents that pupils must have their tests and report it to the school as soon as possible.

He made the plea following the arrival of surge testing in Bolton after a rise in cases and wants to make sure everything is done to “avoid bubbles bursting” in the school.

Last week it was announced that people living, working or studying in Rumworth, Deane or Great Lever are being urged to get tested at mobile units following a sharp increase in cases in the BL3 area of the town.

The mass testing programme has been rolled out after more cases of the South African and Indian variant were detected in the borough.

In his letter to parents, Mr Britton said: “You will have seen on national news that there is a surge of cases in BL3, where some 112 boys live.

“I hope that many families living there have been able to take advantage of the surge testing this weekend.

“This does not replace the lateral flow testing this evening (Sunday).

“Once a boy is in school, has met classmates and then tests positive, it is inevitable that many others will be away from school for 10 days.”

The headteacher said the enforced absence of students could be helped in a number of ways.

He encourages pupils to be given lateral flow tests even if they are well to detect asymptomatic cases and to not go to school if they display symptoms or someone else in the family may have Covid-19.

If a pupil has a “hint” of symptoms they are asked to call the school to discuss the matter.

Mr Britton added: “I very much appreciate all we have done as a school over the last 14 months.

"This recent surge is another test of whether we can collectively act to protect one another and make sure as many boys stay in school for as long as possible.”

Mr Britton also said that the school would be asking public health officials if it should use lateral flow tests more regularly to keep on top of cases.