Chelsea to provide NHS staff with free accommodation at Stamford Bridge hotel

Chelsea have announced they will give NHS staff at nearby hospitals free accommodation at Stamford Bridge's Millennium Hotel.

Chelsea football club have moved guests out of their Millennium Hotel in order to house NHS staff from north west London hospitals amid the coronavirus crisis.

Owner Roman Abramovich offered the NHS use of the hotel, which is based in the shadow of Stamford Bridge, and committed to picking up all costs.

Asymptomatic staff, such as doctors and nurses, will stay there to save long commutes after exhausting shifts. This will be for an initial two-month period.

Russian billionaire Abramovich was said to come up with the idea originally, before chairman Bruce Buck contacted the NHS to put the wheels in motion.

Chelsea were due to be playing Leicester in the FA Cup quarter-finals this weekend.

But football is currently suspended due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.

It is unclear when competitions such as the Premier League will be able to be played.