The National Trust has closed all of its parks in the UK to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
On Wednesday, March 18 the Trust said its sites, including Tyntesfield Estate in Wraxall and Brean Down near Weston-super-Mare, would remain open for free for visitors during the outbreak.
But with the pandemic worsening on a daily basis, its bosses have now reversed their decision.
They announced the news, which will come as a blow to those who had days oDut lined up, via the independent charity's Twitter page yesterday (March 21).
The tweet reads: "We’ve taken the decision to close our parks and gardens to restrict the spread of coronavirus.
"Our countryside and coastal locations remain open with parking charges waived, but we encourage people to stay local and observe social distancing."
People have replied to the tweet to say the closure is the "right decision", reporting scenes of busy National Trust estates up and down the country since Wednesday's announcement.
But others have expressed frustration that the free offer lasted less than a week.
Today, 1.5 million people considered at the highest risk from coronavirus have been urged to go into complete lockdown by the Government.
Prime minister Boris Johnson said yesterday that "doctors and nurses have been completely overwhelmed by the demand" in Italy, adding the UK is only "two or three weeks behind".
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There have been 220,000 cases of the virus worldwide with more than 9,000 deaths.
The number of confirmed Bristol cases rose by more than 50 per cent yesterday (March 21), increasing from 13 to 20.
