Stressed NHS staff have been forced to turn people away from Leicester's mass vaccination centre after they booked an appointment online despite not being eligible for a jab.

LeicestershireLive understands a significant number of people who do not yet qualify for a vaccination joined the queue at the Peepul Centre, in Belgrave, yesterday, Friday February 5, after they pre-booked appointments.

As a result, they were all asked to leave.

"Staff at the sites are busy, and it is stressful dealing with this situation," a spokesperson for the clinical commissioning groups said.

"We want to stress that people will be turned away if they cannot prove they are in the priority groups.

"Priority groups have been agreed nationally and protect those people most at risk from serious illness, hospitalisation and possibly dying from Covid.

"In short, if you are eligible, please book, if not, don't book and certainly don't turn up at the sites."

Belgrave resident Tony Patel said a link to book appointments had been doing the rounds on WhatsApp groups in Belgrave.

He said: "A lot of people are getting this link, I've had it myself, and they are using it to book appointments when they are not eligible.

"That's where the problem at the Peepul Centre comes from."

Around 1,000 appointments a day are being made available to patients who are eligible for their first dose of the vaccine.

They are on offer at either the Leicester Royal Infirmary, Glenfield Hosptial or Leicester General Hospital.

The online booking system is currently available to two groups across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

People 70 years of age and over

People 18 years of age and over who are also clinically extremely vulnerable (not including pregnant women) and hold a shielding letter. People will already hold this letter and must not contact their GP requesting one.

Eligible patients should book an appointment to be vaccinated as soon as possible as bookings at the hospital sites are expected to be taken up quickly.

However, more appointments will be on offer in the future, including at other sites and will be publicised when they become available.

People booking will need their NHS number, help on finding it is available here.

To book at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, click here.

To book at the Glenfield Hospital, click here.

To book at Leicester General Hospital, click here.

The booking process:

Click on the link of your preferred vaccination site

Enter the pin CovidVL19

Register as a new user – Please ensure you enter your NHS number

Pick the patient option on the form and fill in your details

Choose a date and time for your initial vaccination. The system will automatically generate a second slot.

Check your inbox and junk mail for an email that confirms your booking. You will also receive a text reminder if you filled in the contact number.

Photo ID and proof of eligibility (a current shielding letter) will need to be provided on arrival for clinically extremely vulnerable patients. Those aged 70+ will need to provide Photo ID only. Patients who are unable to provide the relevant proof will not be vaccinated.