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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Thomas George

Walkers who travelled to beauty spot 'abuse' police after being hit with fine

Walkers from Greater Manchester have been hit with fines after visiting a Lancashire beauty spot.

Police say people from Middleton and Worsley breached restrictions by travelling to Fairy Glen, in Appley Bridge, near Wigan, on Saturday.

Under current restrictions, people in England are instructed to 'stay local' for any outdoor exercise.

However, officers in Lancashire took action upon discovering people from across the North West at the popular walking destination.

They said there were subjected to abuse for dishing out the fines.

In a Facebook post, Ormskirk & Rural West Lancs Police said: "We are applying common sense but unfortunately we have had to issue a number of tickets for breach of the current regulations because Middleton, Worsley, Liverpool and Warrington are not local journeys under the current lockdown rules.

"The abuse received from those receiving fines has been outweighed by the appreciation from local residents."

Officers said they had also spoken to people about 'inconsiderate parking' in the area, claiming vehicles were blocking the pavement and forcing pedestrians into a 60mph road.

It is not the first time the authorities have been forced to take action at Fairy Glen during the pandemic.

The beauty spot was closed to the public last May following an 'unprecedented and unsafe volume of visitors'.

Bosses at West Lancashire Borough Council said the decision was made due to large numbers of visitors and cars.

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