LANCASHIRE County Council has banned all visits to elderly residents of its 16 residential care homes due to coronavirus.

The authority is arranging contact by facetime and mobile phones.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has no residential care homes but is advising privately-run establishments to restrict or cancel visitor access.

The county council's 16 homes include Woodlands in Accrington; Castleford in Clitheroe; Woodside in Burnley; Cravenside in Barnoldswick; Favordale in Colne; and Olive House in Bacup.

A spokesman for the authority said: "We have ceased all visits from families, friends and relatives to Lancashire County Council run care homes.

"There are 16 residential homes affected across the county.

"This is one of the measures we've put in place to reduce the risk of Coronavirus being brought into the homes.

"During this period contact can be maintained through FaceTime, mobile phones and by contacting the residential care home directly.

"Other residential homes not run by the county council will make their own arrangements. You will need to contact care providers for details."

Blackburn with Darwen Council's adult service boss Cllr Mustafa Desai said: “We have been working with the residential care and nursing care sector, offering advice around visitors during the Covid19 outbreak. Privately run homes have been given guidance around appropriate visits and we have asked them to do everything possible to safeguard their residents. The guidance from Public Health England and the Local Government Association is for self-isolation."