Rutland County Council is to join Leicester City and Leicestershire County Councils in taking a lead in sharing best practice on the Government's new trace and test service.

The councils say they are now awaiting further details from the Government about the service - and the role which they will play.

Mike Sandys, Director of Public Health for Rutland County Council, commented: "We are pleased to be part of one of the 11 'beacon' sites chosen to pilot the development of local outbreak management plans as part of the Government's test and trace strategy.

"Although the detail is yet to be described, we think it is positive the Government has recognised the council is well placed to know it's local population and to manage COVID-19 locally through, for example, identifying 'hotspots', testing, contact tracing and communicating with the public".

The announcement was made by the Department of Health and Social Care on Friday afternoon.