CLLR GORDON Birtwistle has questioned how the people of Burnley are supposed to remember the lockdown restrictions when the Prime Minister "doesn't even know".

Yesterday Burnley was the first area of the nation to hit coronavirus rate of above 300 cases per 100'000 people.

The latest seven-day rate shows the town recorded 279 new cases in the seven days up to September 26 which equates to 313.8 cases per 100,000 people - a dramatic rise from 164.2 in the week before.

The Lib Dem councillor believes it could be down to the fact that people - including himself - do not fully understand the rules.

Cllr Gordon Birtwistle said: "People are asking me 'can we do this' and I'm saying 'I don't really know'. Even Boris didn't know what it was.

"How on earth are the people in Burnley supposed to know if the Prime Minster doesn't know."

Yesterday Boris Johnson apologised for misspeaking after he made a faux pas of not remembering the rules in place in the North East of England.

The new rule for the North East came in yesterday which has made it illegal to socialise indoors with another household in any setting whilst socialising outside is not illegal, but does go against guidance.

Lancashire’s top Public Health bosses are now urging everyone to work together to avoid further local lockdown measures as it is believed that we could be just weeks away from a full county-wide lockdown if people don’t take notice now.

"It's really really disappointing and extremely worrying," Cllr Birtwistle added. "A lot of people are ignoring the instructions of the government which in themselves are so confusing nobody understands them so that doesn't help.

"I fear there will be another short term local lockdown. I think the government are thinking of things like this.

"That will not do the economy of Burnley any good."