HUNDREDS of people turned up to receive a Covid-19 jab at a mobile vaccination bus in Middlesbrough's Centre Square.

The pop-up site is visiting different locations across Middlesbrough this week, as concerns over unequal take-up of vaccines prompted a fresh warning from public health chiefs.

The latest data shows that 5,000 people aged 50 or over in Middlesbrough have yet to have their first dose of the jab, while 16,000 in that age bracket have only had their first jab.

South Tees Joint Director of Public Health Mark Adams said: "We're particularly interested in those people over 50, as the Indian variant is more infectious.

"If you haven't been vaccinated then this variant is more likely to find you.

"We want to make sure we protect all communities in Middlesbrough as much as possible and avoid any further lockdowns or changes to the reopening of the economy."

Known as the Melissa bus, the mobile vaccine centre helps to target those areas where vaccine take-up may be lower, while clinicians on board are available to chat to people who may be hesitant to have a jab.

The bus was at Centre Square earlier in the week and is at the Abu Bakr Mosque on Cannon Park Way on Friday.

It will be at the Acklam Green Centre in Whinney Banks on June 7 and 8.