Trick or treating banned in Lancashire this Halloween

Trick or treating is to be banned Lancashire this Halloween, it has been announced.

Restrictions are to be introduced in the northwestern region preventing large-scale events from taking place, a coalition of local organisations announced on Friday.

These will affect popular occasions including Bonfire Night, Remembrance Sunday, Diwali, Hanukkah, the Prophet Muhammed’s birthdate, and the switching-on of Christmas lights.

Trick or treating will not be permitted as it would increase risk of household coronavirus transmission, a spokesman for the Lancashire Resilience Forum said.

Angie Ridgwell, chairwoman of the group, said: “While Lancashire continues to experience a rapid increase of coronavirus cases that puts the county among the highest level of transmissions in the country, large-scale community events create too great a risk for the public.

“It is vital that we all work together to follow these regulations and avoid the temptation to break the rules on visiting other people’s homes or gardens to celebrate these events, putting yourself and others at risk.

“We are working with various faith and business groups as well as charitable and community organisations – such as the British Legion – to see whether alternative arrangements can be made to mark these occasions.”

Meanwhile, Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis joined forces with the four council leaders in Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley to urge the Prime Minister to throw South Yorkshire “a local lockdown lifeline” ahead of expected restrictions.

The letter to Boris Johnson on Friday afternoon urged him to implement a five-point plan to support the region “without which there will be potentially dire consequences for lives, jobs and businesses”.

It read: “Without additional support we face a huge economic downturn which will impact the people and businesses of South Yorkshire for decades to come. ”

Their five-point plan is as follows:

– Provide an immediate injection of funding for services.

– A targeted support package for businesses in the hospitality, leisure and recreation sectors.

– Support for jobs, through “local furlough” for workers in businesses who are unable to work or see their hours cut as a result of the restrictions.

– Provide additional testing capacity and put directors of public health in the driving seat with Test and Trace.

– Increase the eligibility criteria for the Test and Trace support payment for people who are unable to work because they are self-isolating.