Lancashire public health boss Dr Sakthi Karunanithi has said a number of things need to change before restrictions can be lifted in the county.

Speaking on a video on Twitter for the Lancashire Resilience Forum, he said the numbers need to drop consistently and sustainably before lockdown restrictions would be reduced.

He said: "It's a really difficult issue. A number of things need to be in place.

"First of all the infections need to come down consistently and sustainably and te spread between us, the widespread community transmission will also need to shrink.

"There probably will be vaccines by the time these restrictions are lifted forever."

Lancashire has seen a further five deaths today from the virus as Burnley remains the epicentre for the pandemic in England.

Blackburn with Darwen reported a further 46 cases, taking the total to 2,697 while Hyndburn’s increased by 29 to 979.

Burnley continues to be the most infected place in the whole country, with a rate of more than 320 cases per 100,000 people.

61 people tested positive for the virus in the town yesterday which has seen 1284 cases since the start of the pandemic.