The cockle beds are being opened for the first time in years

Hundreds of people were due to visit Duddon Estuary on Monday to harvest the shellfish for the first time in years.

Police, immigration staff and officials from the Department of Works and Pensions will be on duty.

Residents in the area fear massive traffic congestion as well as possible damage to the environment.

Inspector Dave Spedding, of Cumbria Police, said their main concern was to prevent another tragedy after more than 20 cocklers were killed in nearby Morecombe Bay.

He said: "This is a very dangerous place to be and a very dangerous place to fish, unless you know the estuary itself.

"Our priority is to prevent another coastal tragedy.

"We have done a lot of work with other agencies to educate the fishermen and know what to expect here.

Important wildlife

"We have done work with the Health and Safety Executive and explained to fishermen what our concerns are.

"But certainly I am not going to instruct police officers to go out into the bay and get people to come back."

Cumbria Police will be reassuring people around Askam-in-Furness about the cockle pickers.

Police said there was the potential for migrant workers to come to the area.

Health and Safety Inspector Peter Hamer said inspectors would also be in the area to check guidelines are followed.

The North Western & North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee said it had surveyed the area and found the cockle bed was small, with only 300 to 500 tonnes of adult cockles and the density was low.

English Nature says the area is an important wildlife site and they would be working to minimise the impact.

In April, residents of Askam-in-Furness raised concerns about the expected influx of cockle pickers and the impact they could have on the community.