Devon and Cornwall police order 'selfish' tourists to leave after thousands ignore 'no staying over' rules and spend the night at seaside resorts - raising fears a surge in crowds could trigger a second wave of coronavirus(52 Pics)
Police today told Britain’s lockdown-breaking campers to keep away after many broke no staying over rules to pitch their tents at the nation’s beauty spots amid fears of a second spike in coronavirus deaths.
Devon and Cornwall's police and crime commissioner Alison Hernandez warned people to 'think twice' before they 'break the rules by staying overnight, parking illegally or driving dangerously', after six people were killed or seriously injured on the roads in the last five days.
Meanwhile, in the coastal town of Woolacombe, traffic wardens and police issued more than 70 tickets because of illegal parking as all car parks were shut to keep away visitors.
As temperatures hit 80F in parts of England, local councillor Andrea Davis warned people not to be tempted out: 'Please note the car parks in Woolacombe are NOT open, the loos not open, the cafes not open. Please consider all these facts before visiting. Yesterday there was chaos and we will be ticketing any illegal parking.'
Her warnings were echoed by Duncan Dunbar, a 33-year-old highway worker from Wadebridge, Cornwall, who urged visitors to stay away until after all lockdown measures are lifted: 'We only have one hospital here and it's small and struggles at the best of times,' he said. 'I'm worried about what will happen if there's an outbreak.'
It came as new figures showed coronavirus is still infecting an estimated 61,000 people a week in England - although the true figure could be as high as 111,000.
A major study has also found less than half of 19 to 30-year-olds are 'strictly' abiding by Britain's lockdown rules, while among adults the figure has dropped from 70 per cent to under 60 per cent in the last fortnight.
The findings are likely to spook Downing Street as Boris Johnson weighs up whether he can go ahead with the next stage of lockdown easing at the start of June.
The Prime Minister has long insisted that rules can only be loosened if the rate of transmission of the deadly disease continues to fall.
Number 10 is not willing to risk a second wave of coronavirus but today its plans to prevent another outbreak took a massive hit as ministers admitted an NHS coronavirus contact tracing app will not be ready by a June 1 deadline.
Security minister James Brokenshire could only say the software, which detects which users have been in contact with people who have tested positive for the disease, will be available nationwide in the 'coming weeks'.
The app is viewed as an integral part of the Government's planned 'test, track and trace' programme and experts do not believe the UK can return to normal life without the technology - currently being trialled on the Isle of Wight - being in place.
But Mr Brokenshire today insisted a functioning contact tracing regime, using the 25,000 contact tracers recruited by the Government, can still be in place by the hard deadline set by Mr Johnson, with plans to bring back schools, shops and businesses hanging in the balance as the economy goes into meltdown.
'We're confident the system will be there, able to track and trace around 10,000 people on 1 June,' he said.
NHS bosses have warned the programme, which will require people who have come into contact with someone with coronavirus to self-isolate, is being put together 'very late in the day' and the draconian lockdown cannot be loosened without a 'clear implementation plan'.
However, in more positive news for the Government, Health Secretary Matt Hancock is expected to announce this evening that NHS and care home staff will get access to coronavirus antibody tests from next week.
The tests, previously hailed as a 'game changer' by Mr Johnson, show if someone has had coronavirus and may now have some level of immunity. Staff members who are tested will be monitored by scientists to see whether they fall ill again in order to assess the protection antibodies provide before a potential national roll out.
Beaches remained busy today, including Southend in Essex (pictured) where the number of people packing the sand made social distancing difficult
Brighton beach was also busy visitors, as temperatures hovered around 75F through the afternoon amid the continuing heatwave
Sunbathers enjoy the hot weather today on Brighton beach in Sussex, as people flock to parks and beaches with lockdown measures eased
Campervans and cars were seen lining the streets of Woolacombe in Devon today as thousands of Britons continued flocking to the coast
The site of traffic filling up the town - seen today - angered locals and led a councillor to declare that the town was 'not open'
Sussex Police joined their counterparts in Devon Cornwall today to warn people not to crowd beauty spots like Birling Gap in the east of the county
When Mr Johnson set out his lockdown exit strategy earlier this month he said Britons could now travel to parks and beaches for day trips with members of their household as long as they continue to adhere to social distancing rules.
But scenes of tourists flocking to holiday hotspots have sparked a backlash, with on man saying: 'It's madness, it's like everyone's forgotten about coronavirus.'
The beach-front at Woolacombe was packed before 9am today, with more cars and campervans pouring into the north Devon seaside village by the hour.
Mortehoe Parish Council today said that all car parks are currently closed after scores of people rushed to the area yesterday during the heatwave.
In a joint statement with Parkin Estates, Woolacombe Sands Holiday Park, Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks and the Woolacombe Bay Hotel, the council said: 'Measures are being investigated to allow visitors and locals to benefit from the sea and open spaces in Woolacombe. Social distancing and personal hygiene remain priorities.
'We are grateful to the Police and Devon County Council for their help and support in dealing with the unprecedented numbers of illegal parking yesterday
'We would love to welcome all visitors back but the changes to the lockdown are limited. It has not been lifted and we still have a long way to go. While this next phase feels significant, it is certainly not a return to normality.'
Some visitors had spent the night at the surf resort, with one surfer relaxing in his camper van this morning while another made himself breakfast.
One resident told MailOnline: 'There are even people staying over night. The government has told people they can go for day trips - not stay overnight! These people just don't seem to care about anyone else.'
Another resident, a 32-year-old surfer, said: 'Woolacombe is reeling from the aftermath of yesterday and today the beachfront parking is already full.
'The rubbish bins were already full by 9.30 am and people have even left bags of poo outside the public toilets because they are shut!
'The village is closed. The red barn surf bar is closed. But tourists are wandering around the village complaining that everything is closed.'
They added: 'It's like they have forgotten we are in the middle of a pandemic!
Two people drink beers while sitting on Southend beach in Essex today, where hundreds of people enjoyed the sun on towels and deckchairs
The busy promenade in Southend today, where people took advantage of looser lockdown restrictions allowing people to go outside to sunbathe
A family of five were seen camping in a field in Polzeath, Cornwall today. They arrived in a Fiat Ducato motorhome and had with them a range of camping equipment including deck chairs and a table
Cllr Andrea Davis of Devon County Council described yesterday down in Woolacombe as 'very very dangerous' as the beach descended into 'absolute chaos'.
Speaking to MailOnline, she said the council issued over 70 tickets because of illegal parking and pleaded with day-trippers not to sleep in camper vans overnight.
This morning Cllr Davis tweeted: 'Please note the car parks in Woolacombe are NOT open, the loos not open, the cafes not open.
'Please consider all these facts before visiting. Yesterday there was chaos and we will be ticketing any illegal parking'.
She told MailOnline: 'The police have been going out to people today who were sleeping over here and in Cornwall overnight when they shouldn't have been.
'Second home owners should not be staying at their second homes, and day-trippers should not be sleeping in camper vans (at night) because these are against the rules.
'I realise that people have been stuck indoors for so long now, but yesterday was absolute chaos and it became very very dangerous. We issued over 70 tickets because people had parked their cars illegally and people were not able to follow social distancing rules.
'The rules are all there to protect everybody. If you don't want a fine, don't go out. The rules are really that simple.'
Some visitors had spent the night at the surf resort – in clear contravention of Coronavirus rules.
One surfer could be seen relaxing in his campervan this morning while another was spotted making himself breakfast.
One resident told MailOnline: ‘There are even people staying over night. The government has told people they can go for day trips – not stay overnight!
‘These people just don’t seem to care about anyone else.’
Police were enforcing lockdown after visitors stayed in camper vans in Newquay last night
Police launch dawn raids on camper vans and tents that have stayed overnight in Cornwall
Newquay police said 'we identified some visitors that had travelled to Newquay and stayed overnight against PHE advice and legislation. With engagement, explanation & education they moved on. We love visitors to the town, #comebacklater'
Police were enforcing lockdown after visitors were found in camper vans in Newquay last night
A group of men drinking on the promenade by Bournemouth beach, which was packed with thousands of visitors yesterday
Images from last night have emerged of large numbers of friends and family members all eating and drinking together well into the evening down on the beach at Bournemouth
Images from last night have emerged of large numbers of friends and family members all eating and drinking together well into the evening down on the beach at Bournemouth
Police today urged campers not to stay at beauty spots overnight after thousands broke lockdown rules yesterday. Pictured are people drinking into the night on Bournemouth beach yesterday. Two men were seen fighting on the sand and several couples were making out in front of friends on the sand, while others were feeling worse for wear after a day in the sun
People drinking into the night on Bournemouth beach. Two men were seen fighting on the sand and several couples were making out in front of friends on the sand, while others were feeling worse for wear after a day in the sun
Images from last night have emerged of large numbers of friends and family members all eating and drinking together well into the evening down on the beach at Bournemouth
A Brighton local complained of camper vans parked overnight after scores of people rushed to the seaside yesterday
There was anger from locals in the Lizard in Cornwall that some visitors set up tents and stayed overnight in vans in 'blatant disregard' to public safety.
Locals say several tents and vans have been found staying overnight at various spots around the village and nearby Kynance.
It included sightings of tents at Pistol Meadow, near the former wireless station and at Pentreath, with vans also seen staying overnight in the National Trust car park for the lighthouse and on land adjoining the Kynance car park.
Janice Thirlaway-Price said many residents were angry at the apparent flouting of government lockdown rules, which continue to ban overnight stays even after the easing of some measures last Wednesday.
She said: 'The main thing thing is the blatant disregard of government guidelines and lack of consideration for our community.
'There are no facilities open, so nowhere to go to the toilet for ten miles - Tesco or Sainsbury's - which leads to the dangers of human waste in and around the footpaths local people are using for their daily exercise.'
She added that such actions potentially added an extra drain on emergency services and pointed out that beaches were not currently being patrolled, which could cause problems for people unaware of the dangers of currents and tides.
'There is the increased risk of spreading Covid-19 and the impact it will have on Treliske and our local doctors,' she said. 'Various footpaths around the village make it impossible to maintain a two metre distance.'
The National Trust said that people should not be staying overnight on National Trust land at any time, and particularly now in light of the coronavirus rules.
A spokesperson said: 'People shouldn't be doing that anyway, let alone on National Trust Land, and anyone seeing it should be alerting their local police on 101.'
Cllr Andrea Davis of Devon County Council, tweeted: 'Please note the car parks in Woolacombe are NOT open, the loos not open, the cafes not open'
A camper van was spotted parked up on the side roads around the sandbanks of Poole, Dorset
A camper van was spotted parked up on the side roads around the sandbanks of Poole, Dorset
Sandbanks - pictured - is known as one of the most exclusive areas of housing in the country, with residents including pop stars and former footballers
Caravans, vans and cars parked around Sandbanks harbour in Dorset today, as people flocked to the coast after lockdown rules were eased to allow sunbathing
People living near coastal resorts on England's south coast, including Sandbanks, (pictured) have been concerned with the sudden increase in crowds
Camper vans were seen today parked on side rounds surrounding the exclusive Sandbanks community in Poole, Dorset
In Brighton, locals complained of camper vans being parked overnight, prompting outrage and disbelief that people are continually flouting lockdown rules.
One person said that day-trippers stayed overnight and then rushed down to Brighton seaside this morning, writing on social media: 'Where I parked up in Brighton last night, I had three camper vans behind me & two caravans.
'I went to bed around 12 & they were still there, but woke up this morning and the caravans had gone. All of the said vehicles had children in.
'Looks like they will be heading to the beach, whilst I am working. Surely people aren't that thick, that they don't know the rules.'
Brighton and Hove Council pleaded with people not to come to the city because Boris Johnson's eased lockdown rules are 'having an impact quite quickly'.
A spokesman told MailOnline that the central part of the beach in Brighton will be cordoned off from the weekend 'for public safety'.
They said the government's new guidelines on social distancing, including driving to parks, beaches and beauty spots, were posing a 'challenge'.
A Nottingham local complained of the 'appalling amount of rubbish at Colwick Country Park' this morning
Waste was strewn across Britain's parks last night and this morning after Britons flocked to beauty spots for day-drinking
One resident complained of picking up trash after rubbish bags full of cans of beers were flung across the park
Cllr Carmen Appich said people are being discouraged from visiting to prevent going 'back to square one' in the coronavirus crisis.
The chair of the Tourism, Equalities and Culture Committee told MailOnline 'it is in everyone's best interest' not to visit Brighton amid fears that 'overcrowding... increases the risk of a Covid outbreak and puts everyone at risk'.
She explained: 'We do not want to go back to square one and find ourselves having to face more stringent and longer-term measures if coronavirus cases go up.
'We are discouraging people from visiting the city at this time, not because we don’t want or value our visitors but because it is in everyone's best interest.'
In Nottingham, people walking in Colwick Country Park today complained of an 'appalling amount of rubbish' include two BBQ trays lying near geese and goslings.
This morning, Dr Hilary Jones of Good Morning Britain (GMB) slammed lockdown flouters as 'making a mockery' of procedures to stop the spread of coronavirus.
He said: 'How, if you test positive for Covid-19, and a contact tracer says 'where have you been in the last few days' and you say 'I was on the beach in Bournemouth or Southend-on-Sea amongst those crowds, who do you know who was next to you?
'You can't possibly trace people, and that's the problem isn't it?
'So when people start flouting social distancing rules, and we go out and lockdown in this kind of way, you can't trace those people.'
The police kept an eye on people who were drinking most of the afternoon and into the evening, though lots of empty booze bottles were strewn across Wandsworth Common in south-west London after a day of drinking
Waste was scattered across parks in London and Nottingham and beaches last night, causing residents to get their hands dirty and move much of the rubbish along
People drinking into the night on Wandsworth Common. The police kept an eye on people who were drinking most of the afternoon and into the evening, though lots of empty booze bottles were strewn across the common
Responding to the relaxation of lockdown, leaders in Devon and Cornwall warned second home owners and tourists to 'think twice' before visiting the region.
Councils and tourism bodies encouraged people not to travel more than an hour from their local area to enjoy the outdoors and to avoid popular tourist locations, as the region's car parks, toilets and hotspots remain closed.
One officer said 'valuable resources' were being used to marshal traffic, adding elderly people would be 'very anxious over the selfish actions of these individuals'.
Devon and Cornwall Police said traffic was 'exceptionally busy' yesterday, with officers reporting that every set of double yellow lines across a mile stretch of beach had been parked on as several car parks were closed to control numbers.
There were reports some traffic wardens had even run out of tickets.
Pictures of tourists flocking to beaches and lying close to one another in Southend, Bournemouth, Margate and Brighton sparked backlash, with one man saying: 'It's madness, it's like everyone's forgotten about coronavirus.'
Meanwhile, in Wales the government said the country was closed to all holidaymakers - including campers taking advantage of the hot weather.
Stricter rules mean beaches have been deserted as police continue to clamp down on all non-essential travel.
Some camp sites in The Brecon Beacons National Parks have turned campers away and there are reports of people arriving with tents for the Hay-on-Wye literary festival even though it is being held digitally because of Covid-19.
Dyfed-Powys Police ordered a group of campers from Liverpool to pack up and go home before the early summer heatwave and say they will continue to clampdown on anyone under canvas at unofficial campsites.
South Wales Police have no reports of campers and that all official sites in the area are closed.
Visitors flock to Durdle Door in Dorset on a scorching day with sunbathers packed together, despite social distancing rules
Faye Faybourne, 17 (left), and Daisy Sloane, 16, in Tynemouth yesterday, as people flocked to parks and beaches amid 82F temperatures and eased lockdown restrictions
Southend beach was absolutely packed this afternoon as sun-worshipping Britons turned out to soak up the rays on what is predicted to be the hottest day of the year so far, according to the Met Office
Yesterday, car parks were crammed as sun worshippers visited Sandbanks in Poole, Dorset, as parking restrictions were lifted in many areas several days ago, while vehicles clogged up country lanes at a popular tourist spot in Devon, forcing police to block off roads and warn people to stay away.
LBC's Charlotte Sullivan tweeted: 'More people arriving in Southend today. It almost looks like any other hot day here apart from the dots on the floor to mark out where to stand in the queue for ice creams.
'One man told me 'it's madness, it's like everyone's forgotten about coronavirus'. Another social media user posted: 'The state of Southend beach today like that is ridiculous, how have people not been told to leave?'
A third added: 'Southend beach at lunchtime on what's heading for the hottest day of the year. Technically you're allowed to travel somewhere and to sunbathe - but this is the result when so many choose the same place...'
The Met Office is forecasting a change in weather from today which will see temperatures drip a little from the 82F recorded in parts of the country.
Nicola Maxey of the Met Office told MailOnline: 'Tomorrow we'll start seeing with this low-pressure system travelling up from the Atlantic some bands of cloud and rain from the west, pushing eastwards across west and north-west Scotland and affecting potentially parts of north-west England.
'But it sort of weakens and fragments as it pushes across country.
'We are going to see showers and isolated thunderstorms possibly in the south-east where it stays warm, which makes the air a little bit unstable and there may be a chance you see the odd thunderstorm.'
Locals said some visitors lost their temper in the heat as they became stuck in traffic jams waiting for a space in a car park and fights had to be broken up by police.
One resident of the village told MailOnline: 'It was complete chaos.
'Cars were parking on double yellow lines and no stopping routes. Buses couldn't get through and had to cancel their trips.
Roads and car parks were crammed full as parking restrictions were lifted several days ago and thousands of people flocked to Sandbanks in Poole, Dorset, on the hottest day of the year so far
Residents and tourists enjoy the warm weather hitting Kent as Britain is set for the hottest day of the year so far. Sun seekers flocked to Margate to soak up the rays on Wednesday with surrounding roads packed with cars
These three women enjoyed the sun as they lounged with drinks on Primrose Hill in London on Wednesday, with sun-seekers all over the country taking advantage of Boris Johnson's easing of restrictions
People soak up the rays at Bournemouth beach in Dorset, as Britons flock to parks and beaches as lockdown is eased
Hundreds of people took day trips to Southend as the temperatures hit 27 degrees on Wednesday after parking restrictions were lifted
Sunbathers enjoy the hot weather in Hyde Park, London, as easing of the coronavirus lockdown continues. There is a risk of thunderstorms later today in east and south-east England
People enjoy the sunshine in Broadway Market, Hackney, north east London on Wednesday, on what was the hottest day of the year so far
Broadway Market in Hackney, north east London was packed on Wednesday, as people flocked to parks and shops to enjoy the sunshine
Tourists and residents queuing while waiting to get into a Tesco Express at Sandbanks beach in Dorset, appearing not to adhere to social distancing rules and standing closer than 6.5ft (2m) apart
People sat close together on a busy Sandbanks beach in Dorset on Wednesday, as beach goers appear to ignore social distancing rules
People sunbathe on a beach in Brighton on Wednesday, as lockdown restrictions have been relaxed, allowing unlimited outdoor exercise and activities such as sunbathing
Britons flock to Bournemouth beach in Dorset with many seen sitting close together, despite social distancing guidelines still in force as the coronavirus lockdown is gradually eased
'The emergency services were unable to operate and the Coast Guard could not even get to the beach. Surfers were having to act as rescuers for people who got into difficulty. It was complete madness.'
The main car park on the Esplanade in Woolacombe was full by 9am. With no other designated parking places visitors left their cars in small country roads.
Meanwhile, Barnstaple Police tweeted: 'Traffic wardens are running out of tickets.
'Do not abandon your cars as emergency vehicles can't get though. They will be towed away. The traffic heading to the North Devon beaches is exceptionally busy. The beach car parks are now closed for new traffic... please avoid the area.'
Richard Walden, 55, of Woolacombe, Devon, said yesterday: 'It is unbelievable the amount of thoughtless visitors we have had, parking illegally and causing the roads to be blocked and preventing use of the footpath.
'They blocked the whole footpath. There is no way a fire engine or ambulance could get down that. It is totally senseless. People sadly haven't heeded the warnings, especially the ones from the lifeguard and RNLI. There was a big powerful surf out there today but no lifeguards, If anyone gets into trouble, they are on their own.
A police car pictured at Woolacombe in North Devon as chaos broke out in the area, with locals saying some visitors lost their temper in the sweltering heat as they became stuck in traffic jams while waiting for a space in the car park
A massive queue of cars trails back down the country lane in Woolacombe, Devon. Buses were unable to pass and traffic became gridlocked leading to frayed tempers in the sweltering heat
'It was unbelievable selfish. People started arriving at 5am and last night we had vans outside our house until 11pm. They are not just casual visitors.'
Throughout the day visitors attempted to use the public toilets, but on finding they were closed one desperate woman attempted to kick open the door.
One local said: 'People were literally dumping their cars anywhere and heading to the beach. The village is happy to welcome visitors but once the spaces are all taken, unfortunately visitors seemed to lose their minds.
'There is not really any social distancing and we saw a young lady trying to kick a toilet door off its hinges as they were closed. Also, there is only a Londis and a Newsagent open in the village.
A spokesperson for Woolacombe Tourist Information said: 'We had hoped that people would be considerate to the local coastal communities so are very disappointed by the influx.'
By midday lfracombe and Braunton police reported the coast roads were 'gridlocked' and urged people not to travel to North Devon.
Devon and Cornwall police order 'selfish' tourists to leave after thousands ignore 'no staying over' rules and spend the night at seaside resorts - raising fears a surge in crowds could trigger a second wave of coronavirus(52 Pics)
![Devon and Cornwall police order 'selfish' tourists to leave after thousands ignore 'no staying over' rules and spend the night at seaside resorts - raising fears a surge in crowds could trigger a second wave of coronavirus(52 Pics)]()
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