PUB owners have hit out at new lockdown rules which mean they will be banned from serving takeaway alcohol.

From Thursday, pubs and restaurants will be prohibited from selling drinks that customers can collect as new rules come into force. There was no such rule during the first lockdown in March.

Darryl Leech, owner of Bunbury’s Bar on Chorley Old Road, started offering a delivery service in March – but was only able to make five deliveries a night, which he says was an inefficient method compared to collection.

He said: “This is going to be a body blow if we can’t do this – it’s all very depressing and confusing.

“If you could understand how it was going to make a difference then you could kind of justify it, but I don’t see how it’s going to help. We’re suffering for no reason at all, it just feels like we’re being picked on.

“We have a lot of loyal customers we already have orders for Wednesday and, fingers crossed, with their help we’ll get through.”

Bosses at the Northern Monkey brewery, based in Nelson Square, believe they will be able to continue offering a delivery service due to the wording of the rule, as all of their orders are taken online and dropped at people’s doors.

Liam Convey, co-founder of the company, said: “We’re quite lucky that we have the facilities to offer deliveries. Everyone’s trying their best and it’s frustrating but there’s no point trying to get around it, we just have to get our head down and get on with it.

“I like to think we’ve got a good loyal customers - they keep buying and understand there’s a long, long was to go and touch wood our customers will get us through.

“It’s a depressing time and I’m just trying to stay positive and look forward to some normality - hopefully we’re going to be here for the long run.”