MORE than a dozen businesses stayed open illegally during lockdown.

Barrow Council received 13 reports of businesses being open after the Government’s lockdown restrictions were imposed, a freedom of information request revealed.

According to the council, 11 of the traders were spoken to informally while two were served with prohibition notices after they continued to do business.

Of the businesses that were still open after lockdown came into force at the end of March, four were retailers, three were hair and beauty establishments, three were cafes, two were holiday accommodation and one was services. In Barrow, ten of the traders were in the town centre, one was in Parkside and one in Roosecote. One was in Askam.

Cllr Tony Callister, Barrow Council’s licensing spokesman, said: “The council received a number of reports of businesses continuing to operate during lockdown and the team dealt with them all in the most appropriate way.

“The public protection team works with businesses in the borough offering help and advice wherever they can. In all cases, they spoke to the business owners to explain and clarify the new health protection regulations which had passed through parliament shortly before lockdown began. The vast majority closed or adapted the way they operated their business straight away. Two continued to trade and were issued with a prohibition notice which requires them by law to cease trading and comply with the emergency legislation until such time as it was eased.”