Warning over illicit bonfires

The council wants Bonfire Night to be as safe as possible

West Lancashire residents are being warned that all unauthorised bonfires will be removed before 5 November.

The council says it is will carry out the action in order to make Bonfire Night as safe as possible.

West Lancashire District Council said it was working closely with the fire service and police to implement the policy.

The strategy includes removing any illicit bonfire stacks on a daily basis and having additional patrols by community police officers in problem areas.

The authorised sites in Skelmersdale will be the same as last year, but the council warns that bonfires will only be acceptable on the named sites if built from 3 November.

Even on these authorised sites, bonfires will be removed if they appear before the designated period.

And the council is appealing to residents who know of bonfires which are not on approved sites to get in touch.