POLICE have appealed for people to keep to government guidelines after an officer was assaulted in Clitheroe town centre last weekend while trying to defuse a situation between two groups of men outside a pub on Wellgate.

During the same incident a 17 year old male was arrested.

This was one of a number of cases of disorderly behaviour that occurred in the town centre on Saturday evening and into the early hours of Sunday morning.

A police spokesperson said: "Thankfully the officer only sustained minor injuries whilst arresting a 17 year old male from Clitheroe, however she shouldn't have been subject to this level of aggression whilst simply trying to keep residents and visitors to the Ribble Valley safe."

"Over the coming weeks the Police Licensing Team, who are based at Clitheroe police station, will be working with the licensees of the town, environmental health officers and the local authority, who have responsibility for both granting licenses and setting licence conditions.

"This is to ensure that pubs and bars operate in a safe manner to minimise the risk of transmission of Covid-19, and to ensure that people are able to enjoy a night out in Clitheroe."

Police urged that visitors and business continue to abide by government regulations, which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus.