Moment up to 300 revellers defy Covid lockdown rules to party in Newcastle country park

Moment up to 300 revellers defy Covid lockdown rules to party in Newcastle country park as crowds drink booze, dance to music and play in the snow

  • Footage shows around 300 revellers defying the lockdown at party in Newcastle 
  • Group grew in size as people visited Cow Hill on Town Moor to sledge yesterday  
  • Local said she believes the event was ‘organised’ with music and ‘lots of alcohol’ 

Footage shows around 300 Covid rule-breakers attending a drink-fuelled party on a snowy hill in Newcastle. 

The video shows the illegal gathering grow in size throughout yesterday afternoon – with crowds visiting Cow Hill on the city’s Town Moor to sledge in the snow earlier in the day.   

Revellers are seen chanting and playing music whilst gathered in close proximity, with one bystander describing the group’s behaviour as ‘becoming more stupid’ as the evening wore on.

The local added: ‘I know they’ve been cooped up, like everybody else, but they were getting ridiculous – going down the hill on shopping trolleys, on upside down tables, at one point on what looked like the front of a speedboat. 

Northumbria Police, who attended the scene after the crowd had dispersed, said: ‘We are aware of footage circulating on social media showing a group who appear to be partying on the Town Moor in Newcastle yesterday evening.

‘We want to be clear that this type of behaviour is completely unacceptable and undermines the efforts of the majority of people in our region who are making daily sacrifices to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

‘We also received reports relating to this activity and when officers attended that location the group had dispersed. We did speak to those in the area to reiterate the importance of following the Government restrictions.’ 

Before 3.45pm yesterday crowds began to form on Cow Hill on Newcastle’s Town Moor – with some 

Later into the evening revellers are seen packed together on the top of the hill, disregarding social distancing measures

Later into the evening revellers are seen packed together on the top of the hill, disregarding social distancing measures

One local said the group had become 'really drunk' by 6pm and believes it was an organised event

Crowd chants together

One local said the group had become ‘really drunk’ by 6pm and believes it was an organised event (left and right)

Another local said that the party had already started at 3.45pm, with ‘a good 300’ gathered with ‘lots of alcohol and no social distancing’. 

She added that the group had become ‘really drunk’ by 6pm and believes it was an organised event. 

The local said: ‘There’s no way all those groups of random strangers would all go to that hill on that day, there was that many of them.’    

Another person who saw the footage said: ‘Why do we have to accept this behaviour when RVI staff are working like Trojans to save lives?

‘It’s this irresponsible behaviour that is undermining our fight against Covid-19.’ 

A spokesperson for Newcastle City Council said: ‘We know that many people want to enjoy the snow and that, as you need a good hill for sledging, there’ll always be popular spots that people will visit on wintry days.

‘However, everyone needs to remember that while having fun, Covid is very much still out there and you need to protect yourself and others from the virus.

‘Wrap up warm, keep your distance from others, don’t sing or shout, and remember to wash your hands regularly and wear face coverings if you can.

‘Together we have been doing a great job of driving down the spread of Covid in Newcastle. Let’s not ruin it now.’