Around 20 people face having to pay £200 Covid fines for travelling from as far away as Leeds, Manchester and Stockport to visit Formby Beach.
People across the UK are now being warned not to ignore government rules to prevent the spread of Coronavirus by travelling to visit beaches such as Formby, Ainsdale and Southport.
Police officers were patrolling the Sefton coastline on Saturday (28 February) and turned away over 100 cars from Formby Beach.
Community Policing Superintendent Graeme Robson said: “This weekend, due to the good weather, we have seen a large increase in people travelling to the Formby beach area, some of whom had travelled a significant distance to get there.
“This is totally unacceptable and shows a complete disregard for the government guidance, which is in place to protect not only ourselves but others around us. To flagrantly flout the rules in this way is not only reckless and irresponsible, but can result in a substantial fine, as we have seen today.
“Individuals from as far as Leeds, Manchester and Stockport were found to have made the trip to Formby, which is quite frankly astounding. Now more than ever people should be taking heed of the advice, so that infection rates can continue to drop, and we can meet the criteria necessary for easing lockdown in the upcoming weeks and months.
“We will continue to work closely with our partners in Sefton, and across the rest of Merseyside, to ensure the safety of our communities, and will take enforcement action where people refuse to follow restrictions. Current guidance states that people must only travel for essential reasons, and you must remain local.
“We will continue to have increased patrols in the area over the upcoming weeks and I would strongly advise people to check ahead before travelling to popular destinations to ensure they can socially distance while there, and to avoid it completely if it’s not within your local area.”
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