Play areas, playgrounds, outdoor gyms, tennis courts, skate parks and other park facilities in the borough will be closed to help limit the spread of coronavirus.

The public are also being told not to gather in groups in the borough’s parks and open spaces and to follow the public health advice to keep at least two metres apart. 

People can still use the borough’s parks and open spaces for walks and exercise but must ensure they stick to the social distancing advice. Anyone with a high temperature of at least 37.8 degrees and a new, continuous cough, or who lives with someone with those symptoms, should self-isolate in their homes.

The council’s park rangers and Parkguard security officers will be patrolling parks to ensure the park facilities are not used.

Council leader Julian Bell said: “To stop the spread of this virus and to save lives, everyone must follow the public health advice to stay at home and limit the time spent in public spaces. When people do go out, they should keep a safe distance from others. This means keeping at least two metres apart at all time.

“At the weekend, people were clearly not following this advice in the park, which is very worrying. If we don’t follow this simple guidance, our family, friends and neighbours are going to get sick and some may even die.

“Unless we all change our behaviour, we risk putting our NHS under intolerable pressure. Our doctors and nurses are working around the clock to help people and we must do all that we can to slow the spread of this virus.

“Although it is really important for our overall wellbeing that we can get some time outside, we are fully prepared to take tougher action if this advice isn’t followed.”

Watch a video of Julian in his latest blog on the issue.

Keep up-to-date with the latest advice on the council’s online coronavirus centre; and sign up to receive email updates by registering on the council’s MyAccount pages.