Blackpool Council prepares to welcome back visitors from April 12

It comes after Wyre and Fylde Council leaders urged visitors from further afield in Lancashire and beyond not to visit the Fylde coast before lockdown restrictions eased on April 12.

With the stay at home rules easing on Monday March 29, people will be able to meet outdoors - while adhering to the rule of six.

But council leaders have asked visitors to stay away ahead of Easter half term next week, until restrictions are lifted further in April, in a bid to prevent a rise in Covid cases.

Coun Karen Buckley, leader of Fylde, and Coun David Henderson, leader of Wyre, both said now was "not the time to return" and "we cannot let our guard down."

Coun Gillian Campbell, cabinet member for Tourism & Culture for Blackpool Council also said tourists would be welcomed back to the resort from April 12.

She said: “Our tourism industry has been preparing for months for the long-awaited reopening. Hundreds of our businesses have secured the national ‘Good To Go’ Covid-compliant accreditation standard which will help ensure that our visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience.

“We were the first destination in the country to utilise Covid marshals last year and we will be looking to expand that resource over the coming months. We have also compiled a comprehensive set of information on the VisitBlackpool website which will help families to plan ahead and book tickets in those venues and attractions that are operating with limited capacity.

“It has been a long time coming but from April 12 we are ready to roll out the welcome mat.”