THIRTEEN people who threw a house party have been fined £200 each.

Police found 13 people in a property in Darwen on Friday night (January 22) and each person was given £200 fine - a total of £2,600.

A spokesperson for the police said: "On Friday night we found 13 people inside a house in Darwen having a party. All 13 people have been issued £200 breach of Covid Restrictions Regulations Fines.

"We do not enjoy breaking up house parties and issuing fines, but I make no apologies for doing so.

"Such blatant disregard for Lockdown Restrictions can endanger the lives of your loved ones and friends and place our NHS under even greater strain.

"We are all feeling the constraints of lockdown but the infection rate in Blackburn with Darwen is falling, please all continue to help keep it in the right direction."

Currently, the fines for house party attendees stand at £200, with the £10,000 penalties for unlawful groups of more than 30 people will still only apply to the organiser.

Coming into force next week, fines of £800 will be slapped on people caught at house parties as part of tougher measures to crack down on illegal gatherings during the pandemic.

The larger penalty will apply for groups of over 15 people and will double after each offence up to a maximum of £6,400 for repeat offenders, the Home Secretary said.