Britain's packed beaches could spark a second full coronavirus lockdown, MPs warned today.
Photographs taken during the Covid-19 pandemic have shown many seaside resorts in the UK crammed with visitors.
Now politicians from various parties have suggested the gatherings could cause Britain to go back into a full lockdown, and the death toll to rise rapidly.
Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas, who represents the Green Party, said: "To visitors who love coming to Brighton, we love having you, but I’m asking you now – please, stay away until the city is ready to welcome you.
"It would be a disaster for them if strict lockdown measures had to be re-imposed locally because of a rising infection rate partly brought about by thousands of visitors."
The Sun Online reports the recent warm weather has seen people travel large distances to coastal towns, including those in Cornwall and Devon.
"We see waves at the beach but the wave I do not want to see is a second virus wave caused by too many people coming to our fabulous coastline," Sheryll Murray, the Conservative MP for South East Cornwall, told the publication.
"People should also make themselves aware of tides.
"When the tide comes in the beach can shrink substantially and this should be taken account of."
And Steve Double, the MP for nearby St Austell and Newquay, said: "Whilst people have the freedom to travel to visit beaches, we would ask people to continue to be responsible.
"If you arrive and a beach looks full then please don’t go onto the beach, it’s very important that if people do visit they maintain social distancing.
"Clearly if too many people visit our beaches and behave in an irresponsible way then we do run the risk of the government taking steps to restrict access to our beaches. "
Brits can only go on day trips currently, but can meet in groups of less than six outside if they maintain social distancing.
A contact tracing scheme was rolled out across England on May 28, with a team of 25,000 contact tracers who manually contact those potentially at risk.
Anyone who has come into contact with someone who has tested positive for the deadly bug will be told to self-isolate.
