POLICE officers in Cumbria have sent out a strong message to anyone thinking about visiting the Lake District during the Easter bank holiday while we are on lockdown.

Despite the country repeatedly being told to stay at home to save lives, officers stopped a family of six heading for the area.

The car was told to turn around and was even followed by police officers back to the M6 this afternoon, Wednesday.

And motorists thinking about attempting similar journeys this Easter are being warned the roads into the holiday hotspot are being policed.

Cumbria Roads Police said the family car was filled with two adults and four children and had come from Leigh for a 'trip out to the Lake District'.

A spokesman added: "It was stopped at Windermere and advised to return.

"We are policing all routes into the lakes and escorted the car back to the motorway."

The journey from Leigh to the edge of the Lake District is nearly 80 miles and would have taken the family around an hour and 20 minutes to drive countering government advice to stay local.

Advice from the government is to stay at home and:

  • Only go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home)
  • If you go out, stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people at all times and use open spaces near to your home
  • Wash your hands as soon as you get home
  • Do not meet others, even friends or family. You can spread the virus even if you don’t have symptoms.