Frontline NHS workers are being tested for coronavirus at a new drive-through test centre at Chessington World of Adventures.

Six lanes with cabins have been set up in one of the main car parks at the theme park in Leatherhead Road, which has been closed since Saturday, March 21 because of the coronavirus restrictions.

A spokesperson for Chessington World of Adventures, said: “We have worked with the Department for Health and Social Care and other partners, to set up an isolated coronavirus testing area to test NHS workers in one of our main car parks.

“We are proud to be able to offer our assistance to the NHS during this unprecedented time.”

The NHS workers remain in their cars while a swab from their nose and mouth is taken by volunteer healthcare clinicians from health and pharmaceutical retailer Boots. The swab is then sent off to one of three new hub laboratories which are being set up for testing. Results should be known within 72 hours.

Dr Jenny Harries, deputy chief medical officer, said: “There are bound to be teething problems, so we cannot switch on hundreds of thousands of lab tests overnight. But we hope that soon these hub laboratories will be operating round the clock, allowing us to significantly scale up our testing.”

Any worker who is found to be clear of the virus but who has been staying away from work because he or she thinks they may have COVID-19-like symptoms will know they are safe to return.

Access to the Chessington testing facility is for NHS staff and by referral only.

The test centre is being run by the Department of Health and Social Care.