If you’re expecting a new arrival over the Christmas period, you’ll no doubt want to know when you can register the birth to make it official.

The Lancashire Registration Service records all births in Lancashire, as well as deaths, and performs 4,000 marriages and civil partnerships each year. 

The service will be available for anyone needing to register a birth or death, or give notice of marriage over the Christmas period as follows: 

Monday 23 December – open from 9am to 4.30m 
Tuesday 24 December – open from 9am to 4.30pm 
Wednesday 25 December – closed 
Thursday 26 December – closed 
Friday 27 December – open from 9am to 4.30pm 
Saturday 28 December – closed 
Sunday 29 December – closed 
Monday 30 December – open from 9am to 4.30pm 
Tuesday 31 December – open from 9am to 4.30pm 
Wednesday 1 January – closed 

Normal service will resume on Thursday 2 January 2020. 

A spokesperson for Lancashire County Council said: “On Tuesday 24 December and Friday 27 December, the registration service will not be available on the telephone, but appointments can be booked on line at www.lancashire.gov.uk or by calling in at one of the offices. 

“Customers will also be able to email the service directly at registrars@lancashire.gov.uk. All enquiries will be dealt with as soon as possible. 

“The Certificate Services Department, which is based at the Records Office on Bow Lane, will be closed from Tuesday 24 to Thursday 26 December. Enquiries received during this time will be dealt with on Friday 27 December.”

For more information, call 0300 123 6705 or email registrars@lancashire.gov.uk.

Read more: A day in the life of Preston Register Office

Alternatively, visit www.lancashire.gov.uk and search for ‘Register a birth, death or marriage’.