PATCHY mobile phone reception, parking problems and Christmas trees were among the items parish councillors discussed at their November meeting.

"Not spot" maps showing poor phone reception in the Silverdale area are "inaccurate", Cllr June Greenwell told Silverdale Parish Council, with "actual experience" for mobile users "often being very different".

Councillors agreed to ask Morecambe and Lunesdale MP David Morris to chase up Vodafone about a mast for St John's Church tower.

Residents raised concerns about "seriously blocked" drains in the village centre, which led to Gaskell Hall's basement flooding recently. They asked for the council to press for drains to be cleared.

Villagers also flagged up problem parking, particularly by weekend visitors on the roadside at The Row, saying it was "almost impossible to get out of the junction".

Police action against parking offenders, or yellow lines, was requested by a resident at the junction of Emesgate to Stankelt Road, "a dangerous corner with poor visibility of oncoming traffic".

Lancashire county councillor Phillippa Williamson said she would keep following up the many reports of problem parking she received. She is also to ask Lancashire Police about their lack of a report to the parish council.

Meanwhile, Cllr Terry Bond is to write to Sgt Linsday Brown requesting "a more visible police presence in the village in the future".

"Out-of-date" footpath signs at Gaits Barrow National Nature Reserve, home of the rare lady's-slipper orchid, were flagged up as "a potential hazard" by a member of the public.

Meanwhile, following reports of large vans camping overnight at Woodwell and leaving rubbish and human faeces, councillors agreed to look at ways to prevent this.

In further news, councillors agreed to buy 12 Christmas trees for the village, and to spend £1,800 on three new noticeboards. They also agreed to BT's proposal to remove the "dirty, unkempt" BT phone box at Emesgate Lane, which was used infrequently.

Cllr Mike Fletcher was appointed as Silverdale Parish Council chairman for the remaining year, until the start of the May 2020 meeting.