Priceless Shropshire views? Not quite as beauty spot visitors fined £1,200

Police were called to Carding Mill Valley in Church Stretton at 2pm on Sunday, where they found six people who had travelled to the area, breaking current Covid-19 restrictions.

Four of them travelled in the same car despite not being from the same household. All six were fined £200.

Officers are also investigating after reports of a car cruise at Clee Hill at the same time.

Sergeant Damien Kelly, of West Mercia Police, said: "Officers were called to Carding Mill Valley on Sunday at 2pm. Six £200 Fixed Penalty Notices were issued, four of which were to four people who despite not being from the same household, had travelled in one vehicle to the area.

“Officers were called to Clee Hill following reports people in cars were gathering in the area. Follow-up enquiries are continuing to establish where they came from and if appropriate they will receive tickets.

“The South West Shropshire Safer Neighbourhood Team is committed to keeping the community safe and will continue to adopt the 4E approach of: Engage, Explain, Encourage and where necessary Enforce.”

The incidents happened amid concern that people have been increasingly breaking the law during the recent warmer weather to meet people from outside their household or leave their local area.

Lockdown laws say people must stay at home apart from for specific reasons such as work, shopping for essentials or exercising once a day within your local area.

According to the government's lockdown guidance, staying in your local area "means stay in the village, town, or part of the city where you live".

Police officers were active across the region during the weekend, issuing several fines in the Quarry in Shropshire and stopping daytrippers heading to Wales.