Jackie Baillie has warned people to be on their guard after it emerged a scam urging people to get Covid tests has been circulating locally.

The Dumbarton constituency MSP has been contacted by a concerned resident who was sent a message purporting to be from the NHS saying she had been in contact with someone who had Omicron.

The woman’s husband received an identical message but from a slightly different telephone number.

The text invited the couple to click through to a website to order PCR home test kits.

As of May 1, free lateral flow tests will no longer be made available to the general public and the requirement to get a PCR test will stop.

Jackie Baillie said: “I am really worried, particularly with PCR testing being unavailable from May 1, that people in West Dunbartonshire, Helensburgh and Lomond may fall foul of this scam.

“It plays on the fears of people in the community who are worried about catching Covid and indeed passing it onto loved ones who may be more vulnerable than most.

“It was only when this constituent looked up the numbers online that she realised they were indeed a scam. I would urge anyone who receives a message like this to be very wary and not to click through on links attached to messages.

“Support remains available for people concerned about Covid through NHS Inform or by calling the national helpline on 119.”