Police told a group from Bristol to go back home when they tried to climb a Welsh mountain.
Despite a Government order for people to "stay local" when exercising because of the coronavirus pandemic, a climbing party travelled from Bristol to Pen y Fan today (March 28).
A tweet from the Brecon Roads Policing team revealed the group's attempt to scale south Wales' highest peak, which lies in the Brecon Beacons National Park.
The team tweeted: "Persons from Bristol located attempting to walk Pen y Fan. They have been given an immediate police direction to go home."
Officers set up a road-block on the A470 to prevent people entering the national park, warning a £60 fine could be issued to anyone in breach of the Government's rules.
Brecon Roads Policing tweeted: "Travelling to our area from Cardiff, Bristol & Stroud to name some examples from today are not acceptable. We have to prevent a repeat of last weekend."
Another account responded: "Get this all day long but telling people they can’t walk a hill when they could stand like sardines at Cheltenham and the Stereophonics a few weeks back may seem somewhat strange to some."
The police team replied: "We can’t and won’t comment on what should have happened. We are now working hard to protect everyone. We are working hard on social media to explain how we are approaching and dealing with this pandemic."
Under the Government's travel restrictions, people must only leave their homes for these reasons:
- to exercise once a day - either alone, or with members of your household
- shopping for basic necessities, although this should be done as little as possible
- medical need, or to provide care for a vulnerable person
- travel to or from work, but only where this is absolutely necessary.
If you do leave your home, you should keep at least two metres apart from others, in line with social distancing advice.
