The majority of the 30 Iceland distribution staff who have contracted coronavirus caught it from friends and family rather than their colleagues, a council health chief has suggested.

Swindon council has declared a mini-outbreak at the XPO Logistics depot in Penzance Drive after dozens tested positive for Covid-19.

But Steve Maddern, director of public health for the borough, suggested the bulk of those infected caught the virus from their “social contacts”.

“Similar with the scenario with some of the other outbreaks we’ve seen across the borough is actually although these cases are connected to the warehouse it is suggested that the majority of those cases have come into contact with Covid through their social contacts more than work related,” he told BBC Wiltshire.

The health boss added: “We are working very closely with XPO, which is the depot, and with Public Health England to ensure that we can contain these cases but also prevent that ongoing transmission.”

A mobile testing unit was sent to the depot on Wednesday. It is expected to remain in place for four days.