Inverclyde residents trying to book coronavirus tests online were directed to centres in NORTHERN IRELAND

Despite the existence of a test facility in Port Glasgow, local people were given locations more than 100 miles away involving ferry or plane journeys over the Irish Sea.

The booking system — operated by the UK Government's Department for Health and Social Care — threw up destinations such as Belfast, Portadown and Ballymoney.

Scottish locations suggested by the system included Stranraer, Lochgilphead in Argyll and Portree on the Isle of Skye.

The 'issues' arose after people from all over the Greater Glasgow & Clyde health board area flocked to the Port Glasgow testing centre at the end of last week.

SNP Inverclyde Covid-19 spokesman Councillor Chris McEleny today slammed the 'utterly unacceptable situation'.

Mr McEleny said: "Many parents are rightly being cautious and booking a test for their child if they have one of the three main symptoms — a new persistent cough, a high temperature, or a loss of taste or smell.

"It's not acceptable that people in Inverclyde are being asked to travel outwith our area to get a test when there is a test centre here.

"It beggars belief that the UK Government's test system was asking people in our community to travel to Northern Ireland to receive a test.

"We must have testing in our community and it is clear that we need to have a system in place that district nurses are deployed to test young children as opposed to asking parents to travel great lengths to then have to administer the test themselves.

"Instead of test capacity being blocked to people in Inverclyde by people travelling to the area to get tested from across the Greater Glasgow & Clyde health board area, an additional test site should be established to meet this demand."

The Scottish Government apologised for the debacle.

A spokesperson said: "Fluctuations in demand have been anticipated, as a result we are putting additional capacity in place over the next few days.

"This will include deploying an increased number of mobile testing units.

"We understand there have been some issues via the UK Government's booking portal, which we have worked to address.

"We would like to apologise for any inconvenience due to issues with the portal, and to thank anyone affected for their patience."

It emerged yesterday that the Port Glasgow testing centre which had been operated by the Army at the health centre has now been closed in favour of a new facility at Parklea, which is being run by the Scottish Ambulance Service.

However, it's understood that councillors are pushing for Inverclyde Health & Social Care Partnership to open its own testing unit in the community as well.

Councillor McEleny said the Parklea centre would increase local testing capacity, but added: "It is not lost on us that Parklea is not accessible for people without cars.

"Therefore home testing will still be available and we will press the point about these needing to be readily available with as quick a turn around as possible.

"Our group leader, Elizabeth Robertson, has also raised the issue of the council re-establishing our own testing centre to meet current demands experienced since schools have returned."