Blackpool residents have been flocking to the resort's parks during lockdown according to Google data

According to figures from Google people have been venturing out to parks, beaches and other public areas much more with data around a quarter higher than normal levels.

The tech giant uses location data from phones and other personal devices to track trends in people’s movements both at home and when they are out the house.

The weekly report shows an increase in activity within Blackpool’s parks during the week to May 9, compared to the week before – suggesting people are hanging out in public green spaces more regularly, or for longer periods of time.

Over the five days for which there was sufficient local data, time spent in parks was 18 per cent higher than during a five-week baseline period at the start of the year.

The week before, it had been 29 per cent lower than usual levels, based on six days of data.

Elaine Smith, chairman of the Friends of Stanley Park and Salisbury Woodland, said it was great people were making use of Blackpool’s largest park.

Elaine, inset, said: “Stanley Park is always busy when there is sunny weather but there has been lots of people coming throughout the lockdown and since the restrictions were relaxed slightly last week.

“There are lots of flats and houses nearby so it’s better to be using the park than stuck inside constantly.”

“I had to go to the visitor centre for 7.20am last week and there was already 12 cars parked up so people are enjoying it and I imagine some people who have never been to the park before as well.”

The data suggests that the population in Blackpool are spending more time in green spaces than in other locations across the UK. Nationally, people were spending four per cent more time than usual in parks last week.

Last week, the Government relaxed its lockdown advice in England, changing its messaging to ‘stay alert, control the virus, save lives’.

Across Blackpool, visits to public transport hubs were 39 per cent down on usual levels and shopping centres and food outlets saw 74 per cent less traffic than normal.

Workplaces were 55 per cent quieter than usual, food shops and pharmacies saw 20 per cent less traffic and people spent 20 per cent more time at home than usual.