'Do not drive to parks' - Burnley Council's plea to public

This includes driving to the borough's parks, something that is still happening and which is putting people's lives at risk, as well as potentially increasing the strain on the NHS.

The car parks at Towneley Park and Brun Valley Forest Park have been closed to discourage unnecessary travel but a small number of people are still driving to the parks and parking illegally within them.

This is a particular issue at Towneley with some people parking on the main road into the park, which is a "clearway", and on the grass verges.

Simon Goff, the council's head of greenspaces, said: "A small number of people are driving to Towneley and just parking wherever they like and then refusing to move on when requested to do so by park rangers.

"This was a particular problem last weekend and we are concerned the issue will increase over the Easter weekend. Drivers who park illegally within the parks will be issued with an £75 fixed penalty notice.

"If you can walk to your local park and can maintain social distancing within the park then that's fine. Driving to the park is not an essential journey and people should be following the national guidance, for everyone's safety."