Two friends fined £400 for smoking cannabis at Lancashire's UFO-like landmark

Police fined the pair for breaching lockdown restrictions last night (Tuesday, February 23), after officers paid a visit to the Haslingden Halo - the illuminated UFO-like structure situated on the hills overlooking the town.

The patrol was in response to complaints of anti-social behaviour, including drug use, taking place at the saucer-like structure, which appears to hover over the Rossendale Valley.

Officers said the two men were found "lurking in a car" at the very top of the hill, enjoying the ambience of the Halo's eerie glow.

"After engaging with the occupants it became clear that there had been use of cannabis," said one of the PCSOs on patrol.

Tact Ops were called up to the beauty spot to deal with the pair, with the force branding the car with a"drug driving marker". This means it can now be identified by police using ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras.

The markers alert police to the vehicle's previous involvement in drug driving, which can lead to its driver being stopped for roadside drug tests.

Without the keys to the car, police said the pair were forced to "make the long and wet walk home" from the Halo atop the hills back to town.

Rossendale Police said: "Last night, PCSOs have been out and about patrolling anti-social behaviour (ASB) hot spots of the valley.

"After reports of such behaviour up at the Halo in Haslingden we made a visit up there ourselves. Whilst up there we found a vehicle lurking at the very top.

"After engaging with the occupants it became clear that there had been use of cannabis.

"Our Tac Ops team joined us and this vehicle now has a drug driving marker placed on it.

"The two occupants had to make the long and wet walk home along with their Covid fines."