A MAN from Blackburn was stopped on Morecambe promenade in the early hours of Monday without a licence or insurance.

He was just one of the people caught flouting coronavirus restrictions in Lancashire this week.

Lancashire Police said other incidents included a homeowner at a house party in Colne who told officers she was just ‘having a disco’.

Another case was two people from different addresses - one in Preston and one in Blackburn - who were stopped close to Preston Dock. They gave several reasons for being out together before eventually admitting they had met up to get a McDonald’s.

There was also a house party in Nelson, with people from several different addresses in attendance.

Between Friday (January 15th) and this morning (January 20th) police have issued 198 fixed penalty notices for breaches of the Covid-19 regulations which have taken place right across Lancashire.

Other breaches include: 

* A vehicle full of people from different addresses doing doughnuts on Deepdale Retail Park, Preston

* Four people from different addresses in one car at The Beacon, Wigan, inhaling nitrous oxide and telling officers they were ‘just chilling’

* A student party at an address in Preston

* A gym in St Annes still operating and found by officers with a personal trainer and clients inside

* A group of men watching football together at an address in Ashton on Ribble

* Ten men playing football together in an area off Tag Lane, Ingol

Ch Insp Patrick Worden, chair of the Lancashire Resilience Forum’s Enforcement Cell, said: “We have always been clear that we would rather explain, encourage and educate, before enforcing as a last resort, but these incidents have all been blatant and deliberate breaches of the regulations.

"We all want to return to normality as soon as possible, but in order to do that we need to contain the spread of the virus. To do that we all need to do our bit and stick to the legislation and guidance. Behaviour by people such as those mentioned in the incidents above will only prolong the restrictions for all of us.

"We hope this round-up sends a message that we will clamp down, where needed, on those flouting the regulations.

“If you are a key worker or have a reasonable reason for being out and about, please don’t be offended if we stop you to ask where you are going and why you are out – our officers are just doing their jobs and are working extremely hard to keep everybody safe.”

Anybody with concerns about lockdown breaches can report them online at http://orlo.uk/cgv36 or by calling 101.