A Hampshire woman and her daughter have travelled across The Solent to the Isle of Wight, for a Covid-19 test, after their school said the teenager would not be allowed back to class without a negative result.

Questioning the sense behind the NHS advice - and the safety of ferry passengers and crew - dad Richard Wells has written to both his local representative and to Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely.

He'd booked the only option available to him - a test 35 miles away. The only problem was - as he realised afterwards - it was on the Isle of Wight. 

Sent home

Richard's daughter was sent home earlier this week when she developed a cough, after a few days with a cold.

Feeling sure it was not a case of Covid-19, Richard rang 119 to book a test.

Based near Romsey, the family was told there was no local availability.

They took a chance and drove to a mobile test site at Old Sarum - only to be sent away, because the test allocation had been used up by lunchtime.

Then they tried to book a test on the government's website, but it crashed.

Eventually, another call to 119 advised them there was availability 35 miles away - at a site called Blackwater Road.

Only after he booked, did Richard realise it was at Newclose Cricket Ground, on the Isle of Wight - and after another telephone call he was advised it was that, or nothing.

Ferry trip

On Thursday, his wife and daughter travelled to the outskirts of Newport  - isolating themsleves away from other ferry passengers and paying £63 for the privilege.

This morning, the family were sent the results of the test - negative - and their daughter has returned to school.

Malene told the County Press: "If people are being sent over there as a general rule, that is not in the interests of the wider population."

Richard called the advice to head to the Isle of Wight 'quite dangerous', both for the crew and passengers of the ferry.

Richard is not the first mainlander to be offered the Isle of Wight for a test.

Last week, the County Press spoke to a man in south east London who was told it was the closest location for him.

Read more: Is 66 miles to the Isle of Wight too far for a Covid-19 test?