Police appeal to 'stay away' from Pendle Hill during pandemic after hordes of walkers ignore government warnings and head for iconic landmark

A sign has appeared at the foot of Pendle Hill, one of the area's biggest tourist attractions, warning walkers it is 'closed.'
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And today police have issued a warning for people to stay away from Pendle Hill during the pandemic after 'vast numbers' of people decided to go walking there, many of them unprepared for the hike with no sense of direction and some even wearing flip flops.

A spokesman for Burnley and Padiham Police said: "Whilst the government has said you may take exercise I don’t think they quite envisaged the huge numbers of people that have turned up.

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"You are putting yourselves, your family and others at risk by your actions."

The sign says it all and police have pleaded with walkers to stay away from Pendle Hill until the pandemic is over.The sign says it all and police have pleaded with walkers to stay away from Pendle Hill until the pandemic is over.
The sign says it all and police have pleaded with walkers to stay away from Pendle Hill until the pandemic is over.

The officer pointed out that this lack of preparation resulted in a visitor to the area becoming lost and disorientated on open featureless moorland which surrounds the area and a result, numerous officers were taken away from frontline duties.

The officer added: "Helicopter, dog and mountain rescue team, local farmers and ambulance were all deployed to locate someone who wasn’t fit enough or competent enough to undertake the route they took.

"This is not an isolated incident and we have had an increased number of callouts to locate people lost on the fells of Lancashire over the past few months.

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"When we pass through this national emergency and we are allowed to return to the fells can we ask that you go prepared?

" Map, compass and knowledge on how to use it along with some basic equipment will prevent significant numbers of call outs."