LEADERS in all boroughs believe that East Lancashire will be subject to the highest tier of coronavirus restrictions when Boris announces which areas will be subject to the tightest guidelines.

Blackburn with Darwen’s public health director, Professor Dominic Harrison said he could not see Covid-19 infection rates falling far enough for the area to escape the tightest controls which will last until March.

Hyndburn Council leader Cllr Miles Parkinson, the borough’s Conservative MP Sara Britcliffe and Pendle’s Labour political boss Cllr Mohammed Iqbal all agreed with the view that East Lancashire would be placed into tier three restrictions once the national lockdown is over.

In Lancashire, lockdowns and tiered systems appear to be showing results as the infection rate in Blackburn has dropped considerably from 600.6 per 100,000 last week to 387.5 per 100,000

One commenter said that although the R rate has decreased, action taken would realistically have to be countywide to avoid people travelling.

He said: "The north west R rate is the lowest in England 0.8-1 and BwD now at 370 per 100,000 from over 800 per 100,000 nearly three weeks ago.

"Everything depends on how they group us, either in with Lancashire like last time or by individual councils. If it’s individual councils people will just travel to Bolton, Manchester, Preston or wherever for beer and food."

One woman said that she believes that Eat Out to Help Out was a bad idea. She said: "There are a greater number of beds in London than there are in large cities in the North. Hospitals especially in this are have been decreased in size ,don't be fooled by the size of Blackburn hospital the bed numbers in the area have decreased.

"As for misbehaving there many who have abided by the rules. May I suggest eat out to help was a decision made by an imbecile."

Another finds the restrictions in tier three baffling. He said: "Schools, shops, gyms and hairdressers are all perfectly safe (with a bit of flimsy cloth over your face) but as soon as you walk into a pub it's imminent death."

Another doesn't think lockdown is working well enough. She said: "Can someone please explain why the infection rate is not dropping after tier 3 and a lockdown? It cannot all be down to non compliance."

The Prime Minister will announce which areas will be placed into the different tiers of restrictions on Thursday.