COUNCILS across East Lancashire are urging residents to follow government guidelines over the Easter holidays and stay at home without risking further strain on public and emergency services.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Burnley Council and Pendle Council have all issued appeals to the public, while the emergency services are also encouraging residents to make their jobs easier by avoiding stretching their resources unnecessarily.

This comes amid a series of preventable fires around East Lancashire that have added extra pressure on public services.

In a statement Blackburn with Darwen borough council said: “The Government advice around Coronavirus is clear – stay home, protect the NHS and save lives.

“One of the exceptions is to exercise once a day close to your home.

“In Blackburn with Darwen we are lucky to be surrounded by beautiful countryside and many of our residents are using it regularly to enjoy walks, runs and bike rides.”

However, the council’s statement added that this could mean more people using public gates and styles and were more likely to pass through right of ways connected to other people’s homes and workplaces.

It said: “As a council, we oversee the public rights of way network in-line with national government legislation and guidance and at present there is no advice or requirement for the public rights of way network to be closed or restricted in any way.

It added: “However, this is the worst public crisis for a generation and government guidelines are being reviewed daily.”

Burnley Council has issued a similar warning to residents to keep to the government’s social distancing guidelines and specifically to avoid unnecessary car journeys.

The council has pre-emptively closed car parks in Towneley and Brun Vallay Forest Park but is still concerned about unnecessary parking along main roads.

Head of greenspaces Simon Goff said: "This was a particular problem last weekend and we are concerned the issue will increase over the Easter weekend. Drivers who park illegally within the parks will be issued with an £75 fixed penalty notice.

"If you can walk to your local park and can maintain social distancing within the park then that's fine. Driving to the park is not an essential journey and people should be following the national guidance, for everyone's safety."

Pendle Council has also followed suit by urging people to continue exercising over the Easter period, but to do so responsibly.

Countryside Access Officer Tom Partridge said: “Please consider their need for social distancing and be aware that some of these people may be in self-isolation because of illness or other vulnerabilities.”

Speaking about the need to be protect local farmers’ livelihoods he added: “Quite apart from the risk of coronavirus infection, they need their fields to be safe, particularly at this time of year with lambing, so it’s important you keep to the footpath.

“Some footpaths are not clearly defined - make sure you know where the footpath goes before setting off across fields.

“And stay on the public right of way when walking across farmland and any other private land.”

The authorities hope that the public keeping to these guidelines will help to limit avoidable incidents of the kind seen recently in which careless residents have damaged the environment and caused unnecessary distractions to the police and fire services.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service Group Manager Shaun Walton said: “Having the support of both the public, landowners and managers at this time will undoubtedly help us deal with the additional pressures we’re facing as a result of the coronavirus outbreak and maintain some vital resilience.”

He added: "In the meantime, we ask that people do as required in this national emergency and stay at home."