Melton climber fined for Covid breach in Peak District

Saturday’s incident follows on just two weeks after a woman was also issued with a Fixed Notice Penalty for flouting lockdown restrictions when she visited Hunstanton beach, in Norfolk, on a day trip from Melton.

In the latest breach, the climbers were visiting Stanage Edge and they were unhappy to be notified of their breach by the officers.

Derbyshire Police posted on their Facebook page for their Bakewell, Hathersage and White Peak Safer Neighbourhood Team on Sunday: “A reminder to everyone the country is still in lockdown and we have increased patrols in the Derbyshire Dales area.

“Last night Bakewell SNT issued four tickets for Covid offences to a group of males that had travelled from Sheffield to sit on Longstone Edge in one car. “A further two tickets were given to a pair of males that had travelled from Melton Mowbray and Ipswich to Stanage Edge to go climbing.

“The two males were argumentative and couldn’t see what they had done wrong.”

Current government advice is for people to stay at home and exercise locally - longer journeys can be made only if they are absolutely essential or if they are for work.

The stay at home message will be relaxed on March 29, if infections are considered to be under control, but people will be told to continue to work from home where they can and minimise the number of journeys they make, avoiding travelling at the busiest times and routes.

Families and friends will be able to meet outdoors from this date, too, including in private gardens, in groups of six or groups from two households.