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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Anna MacSwan & Lorraine King

Weekend getaway to start as 20C heat lures lockdown Brits to parks and beach

Brits are expected to make the most of the relaxed lockdown rules today by flocking to parks and beaches across England as temperatures hit 20C.

Families escaped their cabin fever by soaking up the sun in Bournemouth, Weymouth and Hyde Park yesterday after the Prime Minister gave the green-light for day trips this week.

With a warm weekend predicted, millions of people are expected to enjoy being outdoors over the next two days.

But despite the new freedoms, people are being asked to "think carefully" before visiting national parks and beaches, with police forces, tourist boards and park authorities across the country urging caution.

On Thursday, Cleveland Police and North Yorkshire Police issued statements alongside the North York Moors National Park Authority asking the public to avoid large gatherings.

Brits are expected to flock to beaches and parks in England this weekend (Getty Images)

The park authority has asked drivers to "go elsewhere" if they arrive to find a lot of cars or people at a particular location.

Assistant Chief Constable Mike Walker, of Cleveland Police, said: "As we move into a new phase of eased restrictions and many of us are now able to spend more time outdoors, personal responsibility is now key.

"Please think carefully about where you are going and how you will be able to keep your distance from others."

Similarly, the Peak District National Park says people can help give the area "crucial breathing space to recover by staying local".

It also warned that facilities such as toilets, visitor and information centres, cycle hire and hospitality businesses remain closed.

An estimated 15 million day trips will be made by car over the next two days (Getty Images)

Richard Leafe, the Lake District National Park Authority's chief executive, has also urged visitors "not to rush back" to the region to avoid putting pressure on the community and mountain rescue teams.

Coastal areas are also deterring visitors from making non-local trips to the seaside.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has urged beach goers to stay safe at sea and the RNLI suspended lifeguards during lockdown so there are no guards on the 240 beaches it normally patrols.

Malcolm Bell, chief executive of tourism body Visit Cornwall, has encouraged people not to travel more than an hour from their local area to enjoy the outdoors and to avoid tourist "hotspots".

Meanwhile in Brighton the local council is asking people to "stay away" from its sea-front.

Brits are being asked to "think carefully" before visiting national parks (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Carmen Appich, chairwoman of Brighton and Hove City Council's tourism & communities committee, said: "If thousands of people travel to our city on a sunny day and don't or are unable to maintain safe physical distancing because of overcrowding, this increases the risk of a Covid outbreak and puts everyone at risk."

It comes after the lockdown ease resulted in traffic jams up and down the country today with heavy queues along the M25 and A102 near Greenwich in south east London.

Under the new rules families and friends in England are allowed to share a car and go on a trip for the day providing they live under the same roof and they don't stay anywhere over night.

However they are not allowed to travel to Scotland or Wales and a face a fine if they do so.

They must also continue to practice social distancing so despite sitting in the same car they must keep two metres apart at other times.

Coastal areas have asked tourists to stay away (PA)

According to the RAC an estimated 15 million day trips will be made by car in the UK over the next two days.

And almost half (46%) of 1,317 drivers surveyed by the RAC said they planned to hit the road on Saturday and Sunday for a day trip.

The Met Office says this weekend will see hotter weather.

Meteorologist Bonnie Diamond said: "We should have seen the last of the overnight frost, and after tonight temperatures are on the rise.

"The settled weather that we have had this week is continuing across the southern half of the UK.

"During the daytime on Saturday and Sunday, we're seeing sunny spells with possibly the odd isolated shower, and average daytime temperatures of 17C to 18C in England."

She added that highs of 20C are forecast in the south-west of England but those living in Scotland and Northern Ireland should expect cloudier and potentially wet weather.

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