RESIDENTS are being urged to report rule breakers after a betting shop was caught trying to sell bread in a bid to stay open during the lockdown.

People are also being told to "respect" distancing instructions, to support the emergency services, to know where their children are and ensure they are not meeting friends against government guidance.

Businesses are also asked to respect the guidelines set out by government asking non-essential businesses to close and not try to subvert them.

The warnings comes as the Star reported the infection rates in St Helens are the highest in Merseyside and among the worst in the North West following a surge in recent days.

The number of confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 for St Helens as of Wednesday, April 8 was 269 – a rise of 208 cases over the last week.

By Tuesday, based on the four days previously, the recorded rate of infection based on population in St Helens had increased to the second highest in the North West.

Town leaders say it is critical people adhere to the lockdown measures.

According to St Helens Council, one local betting shop - which has not been named - was found by Trading Standards to be selling bread in an attempt to be considered exempt.

Trading Standards and Licensing teams are investigating and enforcing these measures, so if people suspect a non-essential business is still operating, please report it to Trading Standards on 01744 676789.

There are still reports of anti-social behaviour, such as off-road vehicle nuisance, dog fouling in parks and streets, and grassland fires despite the social distancing measures currently in place, including the purposeful damage of Victoria Park’s wooden tiger statue.

Part of the statue was found to have been vandalised with a knife or some kind of tool last week.

There are also reports of people travelling to house and garden parties, which are banned under current social distancing instructions.

Sue Forster, St Helens Council’s Director of Public Health, said: “The government’s guidance is clear and for everyone’s safety; you must stay at home.

"Only go out for essentials such as food and medicine, or work if you cannot work from home. Exercise at home if possible, but if you have to go out, stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people at all times.”

Councillor Jeanie Bell, St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “These are difficult times, and every one of us will need to pull together as a community if we are to make it through.

"It’s saddening to see that while so many people across St Helens are uniting, there are still those few ignoring the government’s national guidance, causing trouble and doing harm to the wonderful place we live and work in.

“Police and all community safety partners are still hard at work, so please, if you see anti-social behaviour or breaches of the current coronavirus lockdown measures, report it and we’ll sort it.”