SOUTH Ham library could become a mass Covid testing centre in the next few days, it has been revealed.

The library building, which closed at the end of 2020, has been earmarked by Hampshire County Council as a potential location that could be used as a mass testing centre as soon as Monday.

It is located off Paddock Road, and next to Westside Community Centre.

The council are currently awaiting approval for its asymptomatic testing facility, that would give rapid Covid tests to residents who have to leave home for work and are not covered by existing workplace testing schemes.

It would include those who work in supermarkets, childminders, transport and construction workers as well as volunteers and primary school teachers, giving them access to lateral flow tests that display a result in 30 minutes.

It is one of eleven locations across the county that could become testing sites if the proposals are approved by the government.

Other locations include Picket Twenty Sports Ground in Andover, Hart District Council offices in Fleet, Farnborough Leisure Centre and Alton Sports centre.

The locations were revealed in a meeting of the Local Outbreak Engagement Board of HCC held on Tuesday morning.

Tests will have to be booked 24 hours in advance and residents will be invited to get a test every three to five days during the six week programme.

Simon Bryant, the director of public health for Hampshire, said the move will help break the chain of infection.

He said: "We are really excited that the programme is there. We are waiting for that approval. We know that a third of the population would have coronavirus without knowing it. That really would help us understand that asymptomatic population."