Police disperse families who had driven to Rivington Pike for Easter exercise

Officers patrolling Lancashire's beauty spots had to disperse a number of people flouting lockdown at Rivington Pike, near Chorley, yesterday (Easter Monday, April 13).

A number of vehicles were found parked up on a nearby car park and it didn't take long for officers to find the owners, savouring the sunshine atop one of Lancashire's most famous beauty spots.

Couples and families explained that they had been taking their daily permitted exercise, but officers had not been impressed by their mode of transport.

"Several people spoken to in Rivington who have travelled there solely for the purpose of having a walk or admiring the view," said an Lancashire Tac Ops officer on twitter.

"Exercise should be taken locally of your home and not several miles away in a non essential car journey. Please stay home and save lives."

In Preston, police were called to Moor Park after it was reported that a cricket match was underway involving a group of 19 men.

The men were 'spoken to' by officers who advised them to disperse and return home.

The Government's lockdown rules mean that people are only permitted to leave the house to buy the 'basic essentials', to exercise once a day or to attend work if they cannot do so from home.

The strict measures are in force to help prevent the spread of Covid-19, whilst relieving pressure on the NHS and ultimately saving more lives.

As of this morning (Tuesday, April 14), nearly 2,000 people have tested positive for coronavirus.

This includes 1,532 cases in the area managed by Lancashire County Council, as well as 149 in Blackpool and 152 in Blackburn with Darwen.

But due to limited testing for those with symptoms of Covid-19, the actual number of cases is believed to be much higher than those recorded by Public Health England.

A total of 273 people have so far died across Lancashire after contracting the virus.