Police in Falmouth have condemned the number of vehicles out this evening – saying "watching the sunset is no excuse."

Neighbourhood officers were out in the town earlier, carrying out Covid patrols to check on whether anyone leaving their homes had a reasonable excuse.

What they found forced them to remind people that driving is meant for essential travel only, after coming across a number of vehicles stopped so that the occupants could watch the sunset.

Writing at post on Twitter, Falmouth Police said: "Covid patrols [in] Falmouth – so many vehicles out driving. Essential travel only.

"Watching the sunset is no excuse. Stay home, save lives."

Accompanying it was a picture of a number of cars parked up, with the sea in the background, and many more vehicles passing them on the road.

It follows reports earlier of an alleged 100 surfers in the water at Perranuthnoe in West Cornwall earlier today, with police confirmed that more than 50 vehicles were found in the beach car park – although many were registered locally.

Current national lockdown guidelines state you must not leave or be outside of your home except where you have a ‘reasonable excuse’. The police can take action against you if you leave home without a ‘reasonable excuse’, and issue you with a fine (Fixed Penalty Notice).

You can be given a Fixed Penalty Notice of £200 for the first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400.

A ‘reasonable excuse’ includes work, essential shopping or collecting medication, education and childcare, exercise and for animal welfare.