A HYNDBURN pub is the first in Lancashire to be closed by police over repeated coronavirus breaches.

The Duke of Wellington Pub on Blackburn Road, Great Harwood, was ordered to close their doors for repeatedly breaching the covid-19 guidelines.

Customers were unable to visit the pub last night, as the closure order came into effect at 7pm on Friday, August 14.

The order, which is the first of its kind in the county to be served for breaching lockdown measures, was the result of a joint operation between The Department of Public Health, Lancashire Constabulary, and licensing officers at Hyndburn Borough Council.

A spokesman for Hyndburn Police said: "As part of a joint operation, a closure order has been served on The Duke of Wellington Pub in Great Harwood. This came into effect as from 7pm on Friday August 14.

"This is the first of its kind in the county that has been served in response to repeated breaches of covid regulations and other incidents.

"Please adhere to the government guidelines, because by doing so you are keeping yourself and your loved ones safe."

Pubs are allowed to remain open under the current coronavirus rules, but they do have to follow certain measures.

Customers must be able to stay socially distant from each other, and only members of one household, or two households who have formed a support bubble, should be socialising inside.

In a beer garden, members of two households, or up to six people from different households, can socialise.

Any breaches of current covid-19 guidelines can be reported to police via 101.