Police warn would-be travellers not to jump the gun and break lockdown rules over Bank Holiday weekend

Police are warning the public not to jump the gun this Bank Holiday weekend amid speculation Prime Minister Boris Johnson could be about to ease some lockdown restrictions next week.
By Brian Ellis
Published 8th May 2020, 08:46 BST
Updated 8th May 2020, 11:58 BST
Police will be on the lookout for people breaking the lockdown rules.Police will be on the lookout for people breaking the lockdown rules.
Police will be on the lookout for people breaking the lockdown rules.

Reports of an increase in traffic heading towards the Lake District last night prompted Cumbria Constabulary to issue strong warnings to travellers to stay away.

And Lancashire Police today asked people not to break the 'Stay At Home' rule to celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

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"We urge everyone across the county to do this (VE Day 75) within the rules in place to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic to help keep people safe and save lives," said a spokesman.

Shoppers queue to get into the Marks and Spencer food hall in Deepdale today.Shoppers queue to get into the Marks and Spencer food hall in Deepdale today.
Shoppers queue to get into the Marks and Spencer food hall in Deepdale today.

The alert came as shoppers formed huge queues outside supermarkets at the start of the VE Day Bank Holiday today.

Photographs on social media showed scores of people waiting to get into both the Marks and Spencer food hall at Deepdale Retail Park and also the Sainsbury store in Bamber Bridge.

In Cumbria the message from road police was simply: "Lockdown is still on. The Lake District is still closed."

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Officers were out on the roads and at beauty spots around the region to enforce the restrictions, in some cases with on-the-spot fines.

The queue for shoppers at the Sainsbury store in Bamber Bridge.The queue for shoppers at the Sainsbury store in Bamber Bridge.
The queue for shoppers at the Sainsbury store in Bamber Bridge.

One early intervention came when a family of four were stopped on the M6 in Cumbria having travelled from London en route to Motherwell for a weekend break.

A spokesperson said: "That's an 800-mile round trip. All four were reported for Covid breach and advised to return to London.

"Our officers are reporting an increase in traffic arriving into the county, we would like to remind people that the stay at home guidelines remain in place.

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"Patrols today, and all weekend, will be checking necessity of travel across the county and taking appropriate action. Please follow the advice - stay home, save lives."

Lancashire Police tweeted: "Our advice has not changed. The legislation has not changed.

"Please think before going out this weekend and don't travel to beauty spots.

"There will be other bank holidays. The health and safety of you and your loved ones however is irreplaceable."