Coronavirus: Man recently flown in from Berlin and partner fined after being caught ‘on way to Peak District’ for camping trip

‘Our beauty spots and rural areas will be here when this is over,’ chief inspector says

Police have fined a couple caught camping in the Moorlands (Staffordshire Police)

Police have fined two campers in Staffordshire who said they had stopped off on their way to the Peak District during the nationwide lockdown.

The couple claimed they were only making the trip because a friend in Harrogate, who had apparently agreed to host them, had come down with coronavirus symptoms.

Officers in Leek found the pair camping in the Staffordshire Moorlands on Wednesday afternoon.

The man had recently flown into the UK from Berlin, police said.

The couple then travelled via Harrogate and Wigan to reach the West Midlands, with plans on heading to the Peak District after, according to Staffordshire Police.

The area’s Chief Inspector Mark Thorley said: “Now is not the time for people to be travelling unnecessarily into our rural communities and to our beauty spots for dog walking, exercise, camping or picnics.”

He said: “I am pleased that the majority of people understand this but – for those making journeys from far and wide to places like the Moorlands – we will continue to use the discretion and good judgement of our officers in deciding whether or not your journey is considered 'reasonable' or not.”

People in the UK have been ordered to stay at home unless it is essential, for example to get food or go to work, in a bid to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

Staffordshire Police said they had come across visitors from London and Nottinghamshire in the Moorlands over the last week despite the nationwide lockdown.

Three Londoners were also fined last week after being caught camping on the Welsh coast.

Mr Thorley from Staffordshire Police said: “Our beauty spots and rural areas will be here when this is over – let’s make sure we stick together and do what is necessary so we can get back to normal as soon as possible.”

The UK has extended the lockdown until early May as it battles with Covid-19, which has infected around 133,500 people in the country to date.

The death toll for hospitalised coronavirus patients stood at 18,100 on Tuesday afternoon, according to the UK health ministry.