RESIDENTS are being urged to avoid having bonfires and barbecues during the coronavirus lockdown.

Wrexham Council is supporting North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and is asking residents to avoid bonfires to protect health during the pandemic.

A spokesman said: "As we all know, smoke from bonfires can affect our breathing and this can be worse for those with respiratory conditions. As Covid-19 is known to affect peoples breathing, having to inhale smoke whilst suffering with this may lead to further, potentially serious, complications.

"We’ve previously released a statement that the charge for green bin collections has been postponed during the pandemic and the green bins will continue to be collected.

"We are asking you to make use of your green bin for your garden waste rather than burning it. It is no longer possible to take green waste to the Council’s waste recycling centres as these have been closed for the duration due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

"The North Wales Fire and Rescue Service is also calling on households to avoid having bonfires so as to reduce demand on their services at this time.

"They were recently called to a bonfire which spread to four nearby vehicles.

"As well as the health implications, smoke from regular bonfires may also be a statutory nuisance which can result in the service of an abatement notice under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Failing to comply with an abatement notice can lead to an unlimited fine on prosecution."

You can report smoke nuisance on the Council’s website https://beta.wrexham.gov.uk/service/contact/report-it – if you are able to provide video or photographic evidence that would be useful.

These can be emailed to contact-us@wrexham.gov.uk