Crowds of people headed to the Esplanade at Penarth at the weekend, forcing police to shut the road for "the safety of the public".
Despite the coronavirus regulations banning people from travelling to exercise, crowds descended on the Esplanade as people headed to the popular spot and walk along the seafront.
Officers from South Wales Police set up a road block on Sunday afternoon to stop people driving along the Esplanade and directed people up the hill instead.
A spokesman for the force said: "Due to the number of people on Penarth Esplanade today (Sunday, January 17), Penarth neighbourhood police team had no choice but to close the road in order to disperse the crowds and ensure the safety of the public."
The road block, which was set up at around 2pm, followed reports of numerous cars parking up along the road and at the top above the beach. A police car and officer stood at the junction of Beach Road and Bridgeman Road directing drivers up the hill, and cones were placed along the road.
Large groups were also present and the force said it had taken the decision to close the road in order to keep groups and gatherings to a minimum. South Wales Police confirmed that body worn cameras were used to record the size of groups that had gathered.
People were, and still are, able to walk along the Esplanade and businesses were open offering takeaway food and drink in accordance with the rules. But once the road was closed on Sunday, it's understood most people headed home.
The Vale of Glamorgan council announced officers would join South Wales Police to monitor activity at the Esplanade ahead of the weekend following reports that level four Covid restrictions were being broken.
The last time the Esplanade was closed off was during the first lockdown in March 2020.
