River Lune at Halton and Caton 'never busier' as hundreds enjoy beauty spots

As temperatures rose over the weekend, many people took the opportunity to swim, paddle or just sit by the river.

Lancaster City Councillors in Caton and Halton said they understood why people wanted to visit such beautiful areas, but urged them to respect the environment by taking litter home, not lighting fires, and parking considerately.

Many local residents are also concerned that large groups of younger people are not social distancing, and are leaving piles of rubbish behind when they go home.

Several people received parking tickets on Crook O' Lune road bridge, as police patrolled the road between Caton and the Crook O' Lune, and PCSOs also increased their presence along the riverside.

Lancaster Police posted a picture of a parking ticket on their social media page, saying: "Not a pleasant sight on your windscreen after a day taking in the sun.

"Please if the local beauty spot's car park is full, think before you park.

"If your vehicle is blocking access, obstructing a footpath or parked significantly narrowing the highway you may return to find one of the above penalty bags attached to your vehicle.

"Just because other vehicles may be parked there is not an indication that it is in order to leave your vehicle there."

The upper Crook O' Lune Car Park was closed to the public, and many people parked on verges or on the pavement as a result, leaving little or no room for pedestrians and causing issues for other vehicles passing.

Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team (BPMRT) also rescued a man who had slipped down the river bank and damaged his leg while out walking along the river at Halton.

The team used a canoe to bring the man back ashore at around 6pm on Sunday May 31.

Coun Joyce Pritchard, who represents the Lower Lune Valley for Lancaster City Council, said: "It's such a beautiful spot, and I can see why people are coming from outside the area to enjoy it.

"It's been busier than we normally see it because of the current situation - people not going on holiday elsewhere, but I would ask that if people do come they are mindful about taking their litter home, especially things like broken glass, which is dangerous particularly to children and dogs."

Coun Kevin Frea, who represents Halton-with-Aughton, said: "I've never seen it that busy.

"It was a mixture of large groups of young people and families, and in some ways it was nice to see because often it's just the larger groups.

"It was good to see more families, but the younger people were not social distancing.

"People were enjoying themselves, but there were a few minor incidents involving younger people setting fires."

Paul Calland, from Lancaster Area Search And Rescue (LASAR), said: "Water safety is really important.

"You can get into trouble in the rapids, and if people can't get on to the shallow areas because it's busy, they try for the rocks further down.

"We don't currently get called out for incidents on the Lune, that is dealt with by Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team based in Garstang, but we're open to assisting more, if the local authorities thought this was something we could do."

A spokesperson for Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team (BPMRT) said on Sunday: "The team were called to Halton this afternoon to a male with a lower leg injury near the river bank.

"The team and NWAS crew stabilised the injury and administered pain killing drugs before transporting him to the waiting land ambulance."