ACCIDENT and emergency departments in Blackburn saw 150 more people needing treatment at the weekend compared to the week before.

With an average 50 extra people each day, hospital bosses put the increase down to people not taking enough care in the sunshine.

Neil Upson, divisional general manager for medicine at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “With the current hot weather, the trust is reminding people to stay safe in the sun.

“We are asking people for their support to make sure that we can give urgent and emergency care to those people who need it most.

“We need the public to think twice and make sure they choose the right service for minor illnesses, ailments and injuries and utilise other services such as out of hours GPs and Urgent Care Centres.

“The public should only attend A&E if they have a serious health condition and in a genuine emergency.”