The council and fire service has issued a warning to the public after a disposable barbecue caused a fire at the weekend.

Fylde Council shared pictures of the blaze, which broke out on some sand dunes near the Wind Sports Centre at St Annes North Beach.

Councillors want to remind the public that barbecues are banned in parks and open spaces and that fixed penalty notices will be issued if anyone is caught using them.

Lancashire Telegraph: A fire broke out at Wind Sports Centre in Fylde at the weekend. It was caused by a disposable barbecue. A fire broke out at Wind Sports Centre in Fylde at the weekend. It was caused by a disposable barbecue. (Image: Fylde Council)

The fire service has also issued a statement, urging the public to bring a picnic instead.

A spokesperson for Fylde Council said: “A fire took place on the sand dunes near to the Wind Sports Centre this weekend due to a disposable barbecue.

“Barbecues are banned in our parks and open spaces and fixed penalty notices will be issued.”

A spokesperson for the fire service said: “This is why it’s vital you don’t light a disposable barbecue in parks, on beaches or on moorland. Why not take a picnic instead?”

The ban on barbecues in public spaces came into force last July.

The order prohibit barbecues and outdoor cooking on a number of the borough’s open spaces. This is after the council received a number of complaints about damage caused to park furniture and grassed areas as a result of barbeques and outdoor cooking, with the fire service having to attend a large fire on Lytham Green in summer 2018 which was caused by a disposable barbecue.

Damage had also been caused in and around Fairhaven Lake, and the Fylde Sand Dunes Local Nature Reserve/ Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The complaints also included nuisance, noise, disturbance and safety risks associated with such activities, as well as an increase in the amount of litter that is left behind.

Failure to comply with the orders will result in a fixed penalty notice of £50 or you could be prosecuted in the magistrates’ court for a criminal offence and be fined up to £1,000. A security contractor will be on patrol within these areas to ensure compliance.