EAST Lancashire's hospitals boss has revealed the scale of coronavirus pressures on the county's NHS.

Kevin McGee said it was up to everybody to stay home and help stem the spread of Covid-19.

The joint Chief Executive of East Lancashire and Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts said staff were under huge pressure because of fast rising case numbers.

Speaking on Radio Lancashire, Mr McGee said:“I cannot over exaggerate how pressurised our hospitals are at this point. At the worst point in the pandemic before Christmas, we had 650 Covid-19 patients in our hospitals across Lancashire and South Cumbria; we have now got 730 and that number is increasing daily. We are seeing the most pressure on critical care, where the number of beds for patients who need the highest level of clinical intervention are extremely tight now.

“Whilst our numbers have been tracking below London up to this point, our community infections are now increasing. I don’t think we have reached the peak in the North-West or in Lancashire yet and if these numbers continue to grow, we will be in a very grave place.

"I think we are at a point now where we have to say to people, if you can please stay home. This is everybody’s problem.”