Pendle residents young and old join fight against Covid

Featuring images of local people from toddlers to pensioners, the campaign seeks to drive home three key messages: Wash your hands, cover your face and make space.

Coun. Mohammed Iqbal MBE, leader of Pendle Council said: “So many people across the borough have been affected by coronavirus. Some have sadly lost those they love, many have been ill themselves or seen those they love suffer.

“The ‘Let’s Do It For Pendle’ campaign highlights how important it is for us all to work together to reduce the number of people contracting the virus by stopping the spread. It may be to protect your mum who is vulnerable, your elderly neighbour who cannot leave their home, or simply just for the community which we all want to see thriving again.

“News of the vaccine is amazing, but it’s not time to relax yet and we must each continue to play our part and follow the new Tier 3 restrictions.”

Details of the new restrictions which the Government placed Pendle under are on Pendle Council’s website www.pendle.gov.uk/coronavirus

Barnoldswick resident, Maria Boyd, appears in the campaign. Maria’s mum is in her 90s and has been unable to leave her sheltered accommodation for the last seven months because of the pandemic.

She said: “We, as a family, are doing all we can to protect her and others like her. It’s vital that we all pull together as a community to combat this awful virus and the devastating affect it has had on people’s lives.

“We must protect vulnerable people and the only way we can do that is for us all to take responsibility for our own actions and follow the rules. That’s all I, or anyone else who wants to keep people safe and see a return to normality, can ask."

Teresa Masih of Nelson has four daughters and she knows just how important it is to make them aware of the potential effects of Covid-19.

She said: “They know to wash their hands, keep two metres apart from others and my eldest, daughter, Ria, knows she has to wear a mask to keep friends, family and neighbours safe.”

Ria and her younger sister Anaya feature in the council’s poster and billboard awareness campaign which started last week.

Also featuring are Sue and Basil Ritchie, from Barnoldswick.

Sue is being extra cautious for her husband, Baz, who has been shielding at home for most of this year due to various health problems.

She said: “We are lucky as we have each other, but like many families we are missing the hugs and family visits we have always taken for granted. That is upsetting for us both.

“But I really feel for all of those living on their own who are suffering from loneliness and isolation. Please follow the rules to keep you and others safe so that we can hopefully speed up a return to normal life as we once knew it.”