A PENRITH service station has been forced to close after a member of staff tested positive for Coronavirus (Covid-19).

Townhead Garage on Scotland Road, near Fair Hill, announced this afternoon that it would be shutting temporarily.

The closure will allow a deep clean and testing of garage staff to take place.

A reopening date has not yet been made public.

In a post on social media, the Hills Spar company said: "Due to a member of staff testing positive for Covid 19 this morning following contact outside of the work place, the company have decided to close Townhead Garage Penrith to allow all the other members of staff to be tested and for the site to be cleaned in line with government guidence [sic]."

Angela Watson, a Townhead manager, said the garage was taking all possible precautions 'in line with government guidance' and would only reopen Townhead 'once we are sure it is safe to do so'.