Lancashire Police forced to play 'hide and seek' as 29 wedding guests flee lockdown raid

Police visited the factory in Waterfall Mill, Queen Victoria Street at around 7pm to investigate reports of loud music and crowds seen mingling at the site.

Sgt Steve Dundon of Lancashire Police said his officers were shocked when they entered the factory and encountered a wedding party in full flow.

Weddings have been banned from taking place across the country since the second national lockdown came into force on November 5.

But as soon as officers entered the room, the wedding guests - who numbered around 30 - began fleeing from the dance floor in different directions.

Sgt Dundon said his officers were "effectively engaged in a game of hide and seek" as the guests scattered around the factory site to avoid facing potential fines.

He said the wedding party was eventually "rounded up" by patrols and a total of 29 guests were each fined £200 for flouting Coronavirus Regulations.

Upon questioning, officers learned that some of the guests had travelled hundreds of miles from all over the UK, including London, Birmingham and even the Scottish Highlands.

Lancashire Police said that the incident has been reported to the local authority and the force is seeking action against the organiser of the wedding, who now faces a £10,000 fine.

Sgt Dundon said: "Unfortunately there are still those who continue to flout the rules and there have been a couple of really significant breaches in Blackburn.

"Yesterday evening (Monday, November 16) we were called to reports of music and a large group in a furniture factory in Mill Hill.

"Officers have attended and were shocked to discover what was essentially a wedding function taking place within the factory.

"There was lighting, glittery backdrops, a dance floor and even a buffet with approximately 30 “guests” present.

"The group have then tried to disperse around the factory and have effectively engaged in a game of hide and seek with our patrols.

"The group were eventually rounded up and we issued 29 £200 fixed penalty tickets for breaching and we are currently speaking with the local authority to look at taking action against the organiser of the wedding.

"Of most concern is that some of these individuals had travelled from as far afield as London, Birmingham, Manchester and even Inverness.

"The blatant disregard for the rules is a slap in the face to those of us who are doing our very best in this current situation."

Since the second national lockdown came into force on November 5, weddings and civil partnership ceremonies have been banned (except where one of those getting married is seriously ill and not expected to recover and even these "deathbed weddings" are limited to six people).

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