THE army are 'getting on with it' amidst their deployment to help with the vaccine rollout in Bolton.

Troops have been deployed to the town in recent days to help in the fight against the Indian variant of the coronavirus, which has seen the town occupy the top spots for the highest infection rates in the country.

The soldiers have come to aid the two vaccine buses - one which is now at Eden Boys' School and the other at the 3D centre.

And Dr Helen Wall, clinical lead of the borough's vaccination programme, said that the army had come in and got going from the second their boots touched the ground - and the reality of soldiers coming in was far from the perceived image.

She said: "There are two different teams - those giving out the vaccines at Eden and Quebec Hall and those who are doing the door knocking, getting surge testing done and encouraging people to get tested and vaccinated.

"The minute they came in they just got on with it. They said 'tell us what to do' and said that they would follow our orders. It is not how you would imagine, with the military coming in and taking the lead. They have been brilliant."

Soldiers from 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (1 RHA) and the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC), has seen troops deploy at pace to Bolton after a request from the Council.

Major Chris Billups, Commanding Officer of 1 RHA, said last week:

“The NHS and local authority teams, across both Bolton and Blackburn with Darwen, have been superb.

"We are well aware that they have been in this fight against Covid-19 for many months now; the fact that they are able to welcome and integrate our support so well is a testament to their character."

The opening times for Eden Boys' school, in Wolfenden Street, BL1, are 10am-6pm until Sunday, June 6.

First and second doses are available (the latter if eight weeks after the first).

If you are unsure if you are eligible, you can go down and chat to a worker at the site.