SEVERAL bars and pubs in Cumbria have been contacted by Scottish football fans looking to visit during the Old Firm match on Saturday, according to the local police force.

Celtic and Rangers supporters and venues have been warned ahead of the match that the rule of six will be strictly enforced by Cumbria Police.

Licensed premises in the central belt of Scotland – covering the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Arran, Lothian and Forth Valley health board areas – are closed due to tighter coronavirus restrictions.

Superintendent Matt Kennerley said: “We understand restrictions on licensed premises in Scotland might offer the temptation to travel south of the border to visit our pubs and bars – but anybody breaching rules here does face a fine.

“We would like licensees to be aware of this and to think carefully about their responsibilities and the rules in place to protect everyone.

“For people in the central belt of Scotland, it is also important to remember the Scottish Government is asking those people to think carefully about whether they need to travel outside their local health board area.

“Our officers will be out in town centres and busy areas to enforce breaches of the regulations.”

Mr Kennerley urged people to think twice before travelling.

He said: “Due to our geography and the popularity of the Lake District, we get visitors from many areas every day.

“For instance, people from Cumbria and Scotland cross the border every day to go to work, shop and socialise within the permitted rules.

“But with different restrictions in place in different areas of the UK and the virus now spreading fast, we would urge anybody who does travel in any way to think carefully about their actions.”

He added: “Firstly consider if you do need to make that journey, as the more we restrict our contact the less likely the virus is to spread.

“If you do travel you must familiarise yourself with the rules in that area.

“In Cumbria, you must comply with the rule of six, wear face coverings on public transport and contact tracing is in place in licensed premises.

“We are also strongly advising people to limit indoor and outdoor contact with others to people from no more than two households at a time.

“Social distancing applies at all times.”

Carlisle City Council and Cumbria Police are working together to monitor the situation in the area.

A spokesman for the local authority said: “Our priority is the safety of the pubs and rules are in place to protect everyone.

“We urge local businesses to comply with the new legal requirements or they could face getting a fixed penalty notice or prosecution.

“All employers have a legal responsibility under Health and Safety Law to assess and manage the risk of Covid-19 and protect workers and customers.

“This means businesses need to think about the risks they face and do everything reasonably practicable to minimise them.”

Meanwhile, football fans have also been asked not to travel to Helensburgh in Argyll and Bute.

Argyll and Bute is under the jurisdiction of NHS Highland, which is not one of the five health board areas where pubs have been asked to close. Licensed premises in the area may serve food and non-alcoholic drinks indoors until 6pm, and can serve alcohol outdoors if possible until 10pm.

Helensburgh and Lomond South Councillor David Kinniburgh pleaded with residents of the central belt to remain in their own health board area.

He said: “I would ask anyone thinking of travelling into Argyll and Bute from the central belt for that purpose to follow the advice and not travel out-with their health board area.”