POLICE and council bosses have come under fire for taking NO ACTION following a report of a "flagrant breach" of Covid guidelines at an Oldham restaurant.

The complaint from a reader of The Oldham Times comes as the town is on the brink a Leicester-style lockdown after positive tests for coronavirus in the borough soared to the highest in England.

Since July 31, in Greater Manchester, pubs and restaurants have been allowed to remain open, but people are not allowed to meet friends from other households in them, unless they are in a "caring bubble".

Oldham resident Louise Smith, an NHS worker, visited Sanahs Restaurant on Ashton Road, for August 3 to celebrate her birthday.

She said she booked the table a week in advance with her mother and auntie and uncle, two separate households, but who are in a caring bubble.

Louise contacted the restaurant again before going out to ensure it would be safe.

She went on: "On arrival we were seated and there were a few other booths with people in.

"However, an hour into our meal at least 20 people from one party were seated at a long table directly next to us (nowhere near two metres apart) and around 15 minutes later another party of 20 plus attended and were sat at another long table directly behind the first large group.

"Myself and my party decided to leave as we did not feel this was safe and so put our masks on and promptly paid and left.

"As we were leaving there were around a dozen people congregated around the doorway waiting to be seated."

She said the "only sign Covid exists" were "a few pieces of paper pinned up asking diners to remain seated and a couple of bottles of sanitiser at the booking desk."

"No-one was wearing a mask," she said. "On leaving, myself and my paty were so annoyed by this flagrant breach of rules that on the journey home I completed a form online to the police.

"The following day I received an automated reply from the environmental health department at Oldham which showed the police had not acted on the complaint.

"The day after that I received a reply from environmental health team advising me that they had no enforcement powers.

"I fail to understand how I can report something directly to the police for them to not act on my information when we are still in the grip of a pandemic.

"I must say as a resident of Oldham I have been dismayed all through this crisis to see the appalling action of the police in the town, including instances of them driving past huge groups of mainly young men who congregate on street corners at all hours, even when we were on strict 'lockdown' back in March/April.

"People have roamed free around Oldham for the whole duration making those of us who are abiding by the rules not only feel unsafe but angered and the lack of police presence or action has exacerbated frustrations.

"To then actually report a breach to the police at the time it was occurring and be completely ignored and basically "palmed off" is surely contributing to why Oldham is still on the national news.

The Oldham Times has contacted Sanahs Restaurant who declined to comment.

The letter Louise received was from senior environmental health officer Karen Vaudrey.

It said: "I have received your complaint about the above business.

"I will contact them and advise them in relation to this matter, however I do not have any enforcement powers in relation to enforcing the guidelines in relation to social distancing."

An Oldham Council spokesperson said: "Oldham Council continues to receive a large number of reports about Covid-19 breaches.

"Businesses must adhere to government regulations and guidelines so customers and staff are safe. We must all work together to avoid a further lockdown.

"Where there is a blatant and continued disregard for the regulations they are at risk of formal action."

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "GMP follows the National Police Chiefs Council instructions on policing Covid-19. "Therefore, you need to redirect your enquiry to Oldham Council as licensing have responsibility for ensuring licensees do not breach Covid-19 restrictions by engaging with them, explaining the restrictions, encouraging them to do the right thing in future and taking enforcement action if/ when necessary.

"I do however note that the environmental health officer has said she will engage with the licensees."