Community leaders have asked residents to play their part to avoid another lockdown - as they asked the Government to increase lockdown restrictions in Barrow.

Health chiefs say virus rates in the borough are doubling every week and tougher restrictions must be imposed to stem the spread.

The decision to call on national leaders to impose a lockdown similar to those seen in the north east and Merseyside was made following a meeting of top health bosses and councillors.

Among a range of measures, the new restrictions would make it illegal to mix with people you do not live with in your home, garden or other indoor setting and recommend limitations on non-essential travel.

Fines could be imposed for those who fail to comply.

Cllr Peter Thornton, acting chairman of the Barrow Area Outbreak Board, called on the community to "pull together" to avoid a full lockdown

He said: “The infection rate is rising at an alarming speed and we are now in equivalent position to where we were in March.

“This is not scaremongering. It’s putting Barrow, its people and its economy first, and we need the whole community to come together to make the difference. If we all pull together now, we may be able to avoid a full lockdown in the future.”

A total of 82 people in the Barrow area have died as a result of the virus this year.

Barrow Council leader Ann Thomson said: “We absolutely must take decisive action to keep everyone safe and break the rise in infections so that we can prevent a full lockdown.

“Your efforts will protect not just yourselves but your loved ones and others around you.

“This is difficult and not at all what any of us wanted. But taking precautions now will pay off in the long run so life can return to normal as quickly as possible.”

Simon Fell, MP for Barrow and Furness, said: “The number of coronavirus cases in our community continues to rise at an alarming rate. With that comes the steady drumbeat of more hospitalisations and the real and present danger of more deaths.

“As a community we have a simple choice: act now to save lives and turn this around, or face a stricter lockdown that could harm our local economy.”

Addressing a rapid rise in cases, Cumbria’s director of public health Colin Cox said: “If things continue as they are, far more severe measures are likely to be inevitable.”

Cumbria Police said public health advice would become law and those who breached rules would face a fixed penalty fine.