READERS of the News and Star have welcomed the news that a mass vaccination centre could be on its way to North Cumbria.

Cumbria County Council’s director of public health, Colin Cox, revealed that talks were ongoing to find a site in the area.

Currently, anyone in the area who wishes to receive the coronavirus jab at one of the country’s mass-vaccination centres must either travel to South Cumbria or to Newcastle – around an hour's drive for either option.

However, Mr Cox, stressed that while talks were ongoing, any site was still some time away.

Readers were pleased that residents may not have to travel so far for a jab for too much longer.

Carole Caulfield said: “We were very lucky and got our jabs at the surgery, but I think a city the size of Carlisle should have a mass vaccination centre, Newcastle or Kendal is far too far to go.”

Carol Calder added: “We definitely need something closer. We got letters to book but I had mine already the day before. When my husband looked the nearest centre was Ulverston from Whitehaven. Ridiculous and a terrible road as well.”

Catherine Penrice moved to remind others that the mass vaccination centres aren’t the only place to get the jab.

She said: “GP practices are still inviting patients to either attend the local vaccination sites or the practice, but the amount of patients that can be invited totally depends on the supplies to these sites.

“They don’t want patients to have to travel an hour to a mass site unnecessarily and as a few people have commented we are in lockdown and shouldn’t travel far. Stay safe and wait for your call from your GP if you don’t or can't travel that distance.”

But Emma-Jayne Taylor said: “A lot of people are quite happy to drive for an hour or so to Carlisle for shopping, drinks or a night out. Surely driving for an hour (south instead) to get vaccinated isn’t a hardship. It then frees up local appointments for those unable to travel.”