'WE will take action when it is necessary to do so' - that was the message from police to pubs and venues breaching Coronavirus restrictions.

Officers issued a £1,000 fine to Chandlers in Ramsden Dock Road, Barrow after the pub breach restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of the virus on October 9.

It was found the business failed to ensure customers were seated when ordering or consuming food or drink.

Superintendent Sarah Jackson said: “This is the latest fine to be issued to a bar or venue in Cumbria for a breach of restrictions.

“Most pubs are complying with the regulations and our thanks go out to those businesses for their efforts to prevent the spread of the virus.

“But this shows we will take action when it is necessary to do so.”

Councillor Ann Thomson, the leader of Barrow Borough Council, said: “Coronavirus is a significant threat to the health of our residents and our teams are working alongside colleagues in the police to make sure businesses are operating safely across the borough.

“The majority are taking the restrictions very seriously and operating within the rules.

“Those who fail to comply, however, face a hefty fine.

“Everyone must do all they can to limit the spread of Covid-19 through our communities.”

Barrow Raiders Rugby Club was another venue which was handed a £1,000 fine earlier this month for breaking social distancing measures. The club was handed the fine after hosting an event on September 26 in which government measures were breached. Officers said the club allowed people of different groups to mingle and permitted people to be up and dancing without maintaining appropriate distances.

The club was one of three Cumbrian venues slapped with a fine earlier this month including: The Central in Egremont and The Bush Inn in Cockermouth who were both checked after 10pm and found to have people drinking within the premises.

Thousands of pounds of fines were also imposed last week on seven people caught flouting strict lockdown measures in Cumbria. In the first court of its kind in the county, each of the defendants was sentenced for deliberately leaving their homes without a valid reason - going against the nationwide efforts to stay at home and protect the NHS.

Louise Chambers, 31, of Maple Street, Barrow, was among those slapped with a fine last week. She was fined £440 after being caught in Barrow on March 30 - just one week after the national lockdown was imposed.