A man has been handed a £10,000 fine over a wedding in Leeds which was attended by up to 300 people.
West Yorkshire Police received a number of calls after 5pm on Saturday (September 26) reporting a gathering of between 100 and 300 people on farmland in New Farnley.
One caller also reported that a fight had broken out.
Police say they found a large wedding party with loud music at a marquee in the woods, which was an "absolutely blatant breach" of Covid-19 regulations.
Officers found vehicles still entering the site and blocked the entrance.
The event had been fully dispersed by around 9.30pm and police continued to monitor the site overnight.
Two industrial-size generators that had been used for the event were seized the next day.
A 49-year-old man was identified as being one of the owners of the land at at Scarecrow Farm, Whitehall Road, and was reported for summons for holding a gathering of more than 30 people in breach of coronavirus legislation, which carries a £10,000 fine.
Leeds District Commander, chief superintendent Damien Miller said: “This large-scale event was an absolutely blatant breach of the coronavirus restrictions that are in place to keep our communities safe from this ongoing threat to public health.
“It is even more appalling that it came only the day after widespread media coverage highlighting the increased restrictions in Leeds that have been put in place to address recent rises in the district’s coronavirus rates.
“Everyone should know by now what is expected of them, and no-one can be in any doubt that large gatherings such as this are completely unacceptable.
“We are maintaining our approach of engaging, explaining and encouraging compliance in the first instance, but, as this latest incident demonstrates, we will not hesitate to make full use of the legislation to take firm action against those who put everyone at risk by flouting the regulations.”
