Police forces could face yet more lockdown flouters this week as temperatures in Britain are set to rocket to highs of 69F (21C) – warmer than both Athens and Rome.
After a largely bright and sunny day on Tuesday, clear skies will make way for a colder night with a classic springtime frost expected for most of the UK before warmer temperatures arrive tomorrow.
Those enjoying their hour of exercise outside tomorrow will be treated to a similar climate to Athens and Rome, with parts of the UK including central Wales experiencing warmer temperatures than our European counterparts.
And on Thursday, Londoners will see temperatures of 69F (21C), as will Rome. But sun worshippers will have to catch the rays from the safety of their back gardens and balconies as both cities remain in lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
There are fears however that some Britons will ignore the lockdown given the warm weather and head out to beaches and parks – as they did during the Easter weekend – and risk coronavirus spreading even further throughout the UK.
Pigeons fly around a woman who is feeding birds at St George’s Park, Bristol, in sunny spring weather on Tuesday
Those enjoying their hour of exercise outside on Wednesday can expect to be treated to a similar climate to Athens and Rome, with parts of the UK including central Wales experiencing warmer temperatures than our European counterparts
Walkers out at first light on the start of the fourth week of lockdown in Clayfield Copse in Reading this morning
A surfer rides a wave off the North East coast at Tynemouth this morning as lockdown continues in the United Kingdom
Shocking pictures revealed sunbathers lounging in London’s Victoria Park over Easter, which only reopened its gates on Saturday after being closed for two weeks to deter those breaching the government’s social distancing measures, sunbathing in Battersea Park and gathering at Beachy Head in East Sussex.
Meanwhile in Torquay, a family were caught by police and fined for driving nearly 200 miles to go fishing, despite restrictions in place due to coronavirus, Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed.
In other acts of rebellion, nineteen covidiots were stopped by Lancaster Police in Moor Park, Preston, for playing cricket during lockdown on Easter Monday.
They said they were ‘bored’ after being spotted by passerby Paul Winstanley, who filmed the cricketers. The cricketers were given advice about social distancing rules by officers, but were not fined.
Some of the men are seen sitting on the ground clearly less than two metres apart. Under coronavirus guidelines, group exercise is also outlawed.
Sports therapist Paul spotted them in Preston and tweeted: ‘Seventeen people enjoying a game of cricket. How stupid can you be…idiots…’
Britons across the country are continuing to flout social distancing guidelines as the number of coronavirus cases rises to 84,279. Pictured: Revellers walk along Brighton’s seafront on Easter Sunday
As temperatures reached up to 70F in Brighton this group of young men in coats had to be moved off the beach on Sunday afternoon after police spotted the loiterers
In Weymouth in Dorset police officers stopped to talk to a couple who were out on Easter Sunday amid the coronavirus lockdown
Officers from Lancashire Police arrived shortly after Paul called 101.
It said on Twitter: ‘Ourselves and colleagues from @LancsSpecials attended a report of several males playing cricket on Moor Park, Preston.
‘Nineteen adult males who claimed to be ‘bored’ have been suitably advised regarding social distancing.’
Elsewhere, one covidiot on a dirt bike was filmed goading a cycling policeman chasing him in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, on Friday afternoon while the coastguard at Brighton pier found a scuba diver fishing.
The scenes of defiance come after police officers were forced to stage an intervention after a huge house party overflowing with lockdown rebels sprung up at a property in Stockton, Durham.
Around two dozen officers were required to attend, along with four paramedics as the illegal gathering spiralled out of control.
Despite fears over more lockdown flouters emerging, temperatures will return to a modest 62F (17C) on Friday, falling throughout the weekend to 57F (14C) as light showers are expected to fall on Saturday before cloud moves in for the majority of next week.
A group of 19 men were definitely not social distancing during their game of cricket in a Preston park and were spotted by sports therapist Paul
On Saturday, police were forced to stage an intervention after a huge house party overflowing with lockdown rebels sprung up in Stockton in Teesside
Ahead of the sweltering Easter weekend just gone, Health secretary Matt Hancock warned the public not to sunbathe in public areas and to obey the social distancing rules.
The government said that people should only leave their home for food, for medicine, for exercise or to get to work if they absolutely cannot work from where they live.
A number of other countries have banned outdoor exercise in a bid to slow the spread of the disease and Mr Hancock said the government was prepared to follow suit.
Despite the lockdown rules, one tea maker has been allowed to harvest the beautiful white cherry blossom at Alnwick Garden’s memorial orchard in Northumberland tomorrow, as it remains closed to visitors during the coronavirus crisis.
Usually, doing such a thing to the largest of cherry blossom field its kind in the world, would be considered sacrilege.
But given very few people will this year witness the spectacular sight of the trees in bloom, Tom Webb has been invited to pick the blossom for his speciality teas.
Tom, of the Estate Tea Company, in Gateshead, said: ‘I feel very lucky to be here. It really is amazingly beautiful.
‘I was given this opportunity by Alnwick Garden because very sadly, no-one will be able to see the blossom this year.
‘So, I am at liberty to pick the blossom to create a range of bespoke teas, which will be sold at Alnwick garden.
Alone in paradise, a tea maker is allowed to harvest from the beautiful white cherry blossom at an orchard as it remains closed to visitors during the coronavirus crisis
Around 30,000 British fitness fanatics joined a month-long challenge organised by social-fitness app Strava, which tracks cycling and running exercises (Pictured: cyclists in Hyde Park today)
Sunbathers started to gather on the grass at Battersea Park, including this relaxing reader who had stopped after riding his bike to the London park on Sunday morning. NHS nurses and doctors have repeatedly pleaded with the public to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary
Members of the public enjoy the sunshine at Beachy Head in East Sussex as temperatures in the country soar to 73F
‘Part of the idea, is to give them as a gift to people who will miss out on the cherry blossom.
‘I am hand picking the best blossom I can find. I consider myself, very, very grateful right now.’
Tom usually makes his tea with pink sakura blossom, imported from Japan.
The blossom he is picking tomorrow is tai haku – which is pale white, with a pink hue.
He is set to fill 12 baskets with the blossom, which he will then put into a dehydrating machine, and transform into around 5kilos of tea.
Tom, 27, added: ‘Hopefully, something nice is being created here, out of the orchard being shut to the public, and the blossom is not going to waste.
‘At the end of the day, we will reduce the moisture in the flowers, so that it is the same level as it is in tea.
‘Once we have come up with the blend, we will mix with a base tea and flavoured oils, to make a range of teas to be sold at Alnwick Garden and also by my company.
‘We really couldn’t have picked a better day to do this. The weather is absolutely beautiful.’
Ordinarily, thousands of people flock to the orchard, home to 329 trees, in April over the course of around a fortnight to see the blossom in all of its fleeting glory.
The Duchess of Northumberland, Jane Percy, usually leads a memorial service attended by families who have dedicated trees to lost loved ones.
But this year, the orchard has been forced to close as a result of the Government’s strict social distancing measures.