A pharmacy group in Lincolnshire has said staffing issues have forced it to change the opening hours of six of its branches and close them on Saturdays.

Lincolnshire Co-op said Covid infections that forced some of its staff to self-isolate as well as “a number of” other reasons were behind the changes that it insisted had not been made lightly.

The company named Bracebridge Heath, Branston, Skellingthorpe, Burton Road Pharmacy in Lincoln, Winning Post Pharmacy on Carholme Road in Lincoln and Newark Road Pharmacy on Newark Road in North Hykeham as the affected branches. Lincolnshire Co-op, which has 49 branches, said the six pharmacies will stay open during the week despite closing during weekends.

“We’re sorry for the inconvenience these changes have caused – it’s not something we do lightly,” said a Lincolnshire Co-op spokesperson.

“The changes in opening hours are due to staffing challenges caused by a number of reasons, including members of the team needing to self-isolate due to covid.

“Dispensing medication can only be done with a specific qualified team in place so that presents another challenge. We will continue to review these hours."