Keswick Town Council is encouraging all non-essential businesses to close down in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus.

A statement issued by the authority said: "We are asking all non-essential businesses in Keswick to close with immediate effect to help prevent the transmission of Covid19, and for all of us to improve the practise of social distancing.

We have requested that Allerdale BC suspend the markets.

"We also urge take-aways to act responsibly and follow the relevant social distancing guidance.

"We ask that those businesses that facilitate visitors change their policy to prevent them from coming in the first place. I.e. please close your B&B, Hotel, Hostel, Holiday Let or Campsite until this emergency is over.

"We would particularly ask all holiday letting agencies to stop any further bookings and cancel all those existing ones.

"We all need food and medicines, and the Post Office. But we can manage without the others.

"We realise this is a terrible time for all residents, many local businesses, and sole traders who we realise largely depend on the tourist trade, but until this crisis is behind us none of us should risk reckless behaviour assuming that we are somehow immune.

"We need to work together for the benefit of Keswick, and together we will get through this, and welcome back our visitors with open arms.

"If you wish to help our community directly, please contact the Keswick Community Emergency Recovery Partnership by emailing keswickvolunteers@gmail.com

"If you are a visitor and are reading this, please return home to help restore the balance of demand on our NHS and other services."

Cumbria police said: "The health, social care and emergency services in Cumbria are resourced to serve the 500,000

resident population and will be stretched to breaking point by this crisis.

"Large numbers of visitors will only place an additional burden on these hard-pushed

professionals."

County councillor for Keswick, Tony Lywood, said: "Sally’s Cottages and Lakelovers have lead the way by closing bookings. I know it is painful for the company but it is the right thing to do and I applaud their decision.

"I am now calling on all holiday letting companies to do the same. We love our visitors but now is not the time for tourism and we do not want Cumbria to continue to be a coronavirus hotspot. Visitors should stay away for the foreseeable future and isolate in their own communities.

"By continuing having visitors here it will surely increase the spread of this infection. This should also include campervans and any place where visitors are travelling from another area of the country."