POLICE say most people are sticking to the rules after officers stepped up patrols at Wepre Park.

The car park at Wepre has been closed by Flintshire Council to deter people travelling there for recreation and exercise during the current lockdown.

From Wednesday, the North Flintshire policing team increased patrols in the area.

The team tweeted: "Officers have been out on COVID patrols today in Wepre Park and the Flintshire North area in general. Overall this was positive and people are sticking to the rules which is nice to see."

The move came after reports of people travelling to the park from outside the area. Some fines have been issued in relation to coronavirus measures breaches.

Support Sergeant for Flintshire North Matt Subacchi explained: "A number of people have been reported there for breach of covid regulations. The council has closed the park but there is a suggestion that breaches are still going on so we are going to put some extra patrols in there.

"We will start by giving advice, but enforcement is a possibility."

"We want to get the message across that people have to follow the regulations. We don't want to issue fines, but where we find people breaching regulations we will have to consider that possibility.

"Please abide by the regulations to protect yourselves and others."

The car park at Wepre has been closed by Flintshire Council in line with the alert level four measures in place in Wales, along with those at Waun y Llyn on Hope Mountain and Moel Famau.

The local authority’s deputy leader Carolyn Thomas urged members of the public to stick to the guidelines to reduce transmission levels.

She said: “For several weeks extensive national, regional and local messaging has made it clear that people should stay at home and not travel unless it is for an essential reason such as work or health

“Travelling for exercise is not classed as an essential reason and exercise should start and end at home.

“We were hoping to keep the car parks open under level 4 regulations for local people with mobility issues but the selfish and thoughtless actions of people disregarding the rules has meant we have had to close them on the advice of the police.”