The excuses people gave to police for breaking lockdown over the weekend

Police in Wales had a busy weekend clamping down on people flouting the strict lockdown rules that were introduced over the weekend.

On Friday revised lockdown regulations were published by the Welsh Government which made it clear that people cannot remain away from the place they live.

But with good weather over the weekend and five weeks of lockdown, police had to issue Fixed Penalty Notices to people for breaking the rules.

People from Bristol and London were issued with fines after driving to Penyfan and Snowdon to walk and a person drove from Swindon Barry Island to go to the beach.

Officers stopped 10 people in two separate cars who had driven in convoy from London to climb Wales’ highest peak. They were all reported for breaching Covid-19 legislation.

Staff from a local hotel challenged a man seen returning to his car after he had walked up Snowdon on Sunday.

North Wales Police said he had travelled nearly 200 miles from Cumbria and he became abusive when challenged because he thought the regulations did not apply.

Police said he was stopped on the A55 and was reported for breaching Covid19 legislation.

Meanwhile, police in the Vale of Glamorgan said they reported 16 people for travelling to beaches in the area, including one who had travelled more than 80 miles from Swindon.

They also moved on several vehicles from the Cold Knap area, who were visiting the beach, despite the road closures.

Chief Inspector Tony Williams, who is in charge of Barry and the Vale of Glamorgan, said: “It’s not that difficult surely. Stay home, save lives, protect the NHS – this is a public health emergency, not a public holiday.”

Gwent Police dispersed large groups of people from The Canyons on The British mountain on Sunday.

A spokesman said: “People have travelled from Cardiff, Bristol and Somerset. This is not essential travel. Please take your daily exercise in the area where you live.”

And police in Pembrokeshire stopped and fined a driver “looking for coffee”. Officers from Pembrokeshire’s Roads Policing Unit said: “The two occupants of this vehicle were stopped at Begelly. Their excuse for being on the roads was that they were looking for a coffee. Both were issued with tickets for breach of Covid-19 regulations.”

They said it was not the first time the driver had been reported for breaking the regulations.

People were also spotted gathering to buy ice creams in Cardiff Bay despite lockdown rules saying they can only leave the house to buy essentials or for daily exercise.

Two ice cream vans set up stall in the area in the nice weather even though lockdown measures were extended at the weekend.

And a woman invited neighbours to a garden party at her home in Wales despite the country being in lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The event was live-streamed on the internet.

Mother-of-four Mandy Higgins said she and her guests just wanted to cheer themselves up during lockdown.

People using Cardiff’s parks for an outdoor gym and to ride horses and carts were moved on by police on Saturday.

Residents saw at least ten gypsy-style traps defy the lockdown to ride around grassy playing fields in the sunshine.

Children were seen sitting on the carts as their parents gathered around drinking and talking in large groups.

The scene unfolded at Roath Park in Cardiff before police turned up and the crowd fled.