Plea to residents to stop lighting garden fires

Wakefield Council is urging residents to resist lighting garden fires despite suspending brown bin collections and closing recycling centres.

Coun Maureen Cummings, cabinet member for the environment, said that with breathing difficulties a key symptom of coronavirus, people affected would not be able to open windows if garden fires are started.

She said: “We know at this time of year many people like to have a bonfire to get rid of garden waste, but in these unprecedented times I am asking everyone to stop, think and consider others.”