A PUB has closed for several days after a staff member tested positive for Covid.

A member of the kitchen staff at the Royal Arms in Tockholes took a lateral flow test which came back positive, leading to the landlord deciding to close the pub while they awaited further advice.

Owner Robin Tillbrook said: “It’s a difficult time – it’s an unprecedented time.

“It’s tough, however, we will always maintain the safety of our staff and customers is paramount.

"We will put that over business. Our customers are very understanding.”

Mr Tillbrook, his wife Ruth,and son Adam have run the Tockholes Road pub for more than two years, during which time they have completed a refurbishment that has created a seated-patio area that can hold up to 100 people.

The pub shut today and will remain closed again tomorrow, with staff hopefully being able to open up again Thursday however they are still awaiting confirmation of this.

Since the staff member tested positive, the rest of the workers have all taken lateral flow tests which have all come back as negative and the member of staff who tested positive will be completing a PCR test to confirm the result.

If the staff member tests positive again, Mr Tillbrook said that the whole of the kitchen team will need to complete a full self-isolation and that he hopes to open the kitchen for a limited menu.

It comes as Blackburn with Darwen continues to record the highest rate in the UK, with 515.7 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to June 2, up from 390.8 a week earlier.