Parts of Stoke Mandeville Stadium - known as the birthplace of the Paralympics - has been turned into a care centre as hospitals in the county continue to battle coronavirus.

The Olympic Lodge and other buildings at the Aylesbury stadium have been transformed to ease pressure on the county's hospitals as coronavirus continues to dominate their time and resources.

In just three weeks, the lodge has been "completely repurposed" as a care and reablement centre to look after vulnerable adults during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The aim of the centre is to get people back home as soon as possible and will care for hospital patients who no longer need acute care but are not yet ready to return home and people living at home who, temporarily, are unable to stay there because they have no support.

Up to 240 beds are available from today, Monday, April 6, and the lodge is being staffed by a team of care workers and volunteers who will give round the clock care.

The stadium's catering and hospitality staff are supporting the lodge.

Explaining why the facility was needed, Angela Macpherson, executive portfolio holder for adult social care at the new Buckinghamshire Council, said: “The benefits of setting up this centre are two-fold.

"Not only are we freeing up beds in hospitals which can be used to care for critically ill patients, we are also ensuring that our most vulnerable residents have a safe place to go where they will be cared for.

"They will be away from the danger of infection in hospital and under the care and supervision of a team of specialist staff.”

To limit the spread of Covid-19, no visitors will be allowed but the centre has got mobile phones and tablets for patients to stay in touch with their loved ones.

All meals and laundry are provided and those living there will have access to TVs and other entertainment.

Cllr Macpherson added: "It is an amazing feat to have got this centre up and running in just three weeks and I congratulate everyone involved.

“Ultimately we want to make sure that during this time of national emergency that we are working proactively to do all we can to protect our most vulnerable residents from the dangers posed by Covid-19.”

Could you offer some assistance to support the staff at Olympic Lodge? The team is looking for a range of volunteers with a health or social care background to help care for clients.

Full training and support will be given to all volunteers.

If you would like to volunteer or find out more about what is involved complete an online form at www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/coronavirus/community-hub/helping-others/health-and-social-care-volunteer-support/ or email communities@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

An application has been made to register the centre with the Care Quality Commission.