A minor injuries unit at a county hospital has closed due to a lack of nurses.

The MIU at Tenbury Community Hospital, on Worcester Road in Tenbury Wells, is closed.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust confirmed this morning that the unit will not open today or tomorrow, Friday September 16.

The unit is one of five across Worcestershire that treat injuries such as sprains, wounds, cuts or burns, and will reopen at 9am on Saturday, September 17.

Patients seeking urgent advice have been told to call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk.

Earlier this month local NHS leaders reassured residents over the provision of the Tenbury MIU.

Phil Shakeshaft, the Trust's MIU lead, said that despite short-term closures, the site remains a "key part" of the wider urgent care system.

He said: “We do rely on a small number of trained nurses to run the unit in Tenbury which means we sometimes have little option but to temporarily close it for short periods due to sickness or other unplanned absence.

"We try and avoid this as much as possible and do everything we can to maintain a full service.”

Worcestershire residents are also being reminded that local MIUs, including Tenbury, will remain open throughout the bank holiday weekend.

Further information, including locations and opening times, can be found at http://hacw.nhs.uk/miu.