The vaccination roll-out in Alsager and the surrounding area is ahead of schedule, according to the council leader.

In yesterday's (Monday) daily video update, Cllr Sam Corcoran praised the efforts of the local NHS and volunteers for vaccinating over 10,000 people.

Cllr Corcoran said: "The Sandbach, Middlewich, Alsager, Scholar Green and Haslington (SMASH) Primary Care Network have to date vaccinated over 10,000 patients in the top four priority groups.

"This is an incredible feat, a huge thank you and congratulations to all those involved in making this happen so quickly and efficiently."

The target date set out by the government for offering everyone in the top four priority groups their first jab of the vaccine is 15 February.

Alsager residents in the top four priority groups-over 70s, for example - who have not yet been offered a vaccine should contact their GP practice.

Cllr Corcoran added: "I think that it is no coincidence that something run locally by our NHS has gone well and the programmes run nationally by large private companies have failed.

"You need only think of the PPE fiasco and the £20BN Serco led Test Trace system."

He also spoke against the need for mass vaccination centres, instead arguing: "The local system has proved that it works and it could deliver more vaccinations if the vaccine supply were increased."