Police have set up a checkpoint to turn away and fine drivers who are breaking the lockdown rules to visit Brighton today.
Motorists are being stopped by officers at the end of the A23 into Patcham to stop bored families swarming to the beach to enjoy the hot weather this weekend, the Argus reports.
Officers from Surrey and Sussex Road Policing Unit have already stopped and fined carloads of people trying to sneak into the town before noon.
Police had issued two fines and turned around 19 cars after stopping around 65 before 11am.
The government have been accused of mixed messaging ahead of the bank holiday.
Sign up to get the Mirror’s daily coronavirus briefing email at mirror.co.uk/email - in your inbox after the press conference every evening.
One car is claimed to have travelled more than 100 miles from Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire.
Residents cheered and voiced their support for the police who are keeping visitors out of the city over the Bank Holiday weekend.
A spokesman for Sussex Police: “It’s not a dedicated coronavirus stop-check, but as part of the routine stop-check, we are asking people why they are here, where they are going and turning them around if they do not have a purpose."
He added that the stop-check is expected to last all day.
Nancy Platts, Brighton and Hove City Council leader, reiterated the “visitors must stay away” message as the nation enjoys a mini-heatwave this weekend.
Yesterday parts of Hove beach were busy but people were generally observing social distancing regulations by remaining at least two metres apart.
Ms Platts said: “We do not want to undo the work we have already done.
“Whilst we have seen the curve of people being hospitalised with the virus coming down, we would not want to see it go back up.
"We still need people to stay away if they don’t live here and, if you do live here, go out locally."
On Thursday the Government formally extended the lockdown by three more weeks.
The extension comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson will reveal his plans on how the nation will ease out of the lockdown.
Mr Johnson's "roadmap", which aims to get the country back to normal, is staggered over the next six months but he said some steps will happen the next day “if we possibly can”.
While gyms aren't expected to open until at least October, Brits will now be able to exercise as much as they like outdoors from Monday.
Employees at businesses that have stayed open throughout the lockdown will be able to return to their workplaces - providing it's safe.
Garden centres could also reopen, while restrictions around open-air markets and high streets could be eased which allow traders resume with guidance from the Government.
They will also issue guidance surrounding funeral burials and visiting cemeteries.
The Government 's draft 50-page blueprint for easing the coronavirus lockdown will be rolled out in five staggered steps between Monday and October.
