Bournemouth beach busy as Covid-19 restrictions are eased

From today, people can meet up in groups of up to six people or two households, team sports can resume, outdoor sports facilities reopen, and the message for people to stay at home rule is replaced with ‘stay local’.

In Dorset, hundreds of people took advantage of the good weather and the lifting of some Covid-19 restrictions to visit the seafront.

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A couple from Westbourne said: “This is the first time I have been able to see my daughter who lives in Christchurch in almost three months.

“We have stuck to the rules, but it was hard at time.

“I am just so happy that we have been able to see each other and enjoy a lovely walk on the beach.”

People were seen sitting in large groups on the beachfront and sunbathing, as temperatures reached 14 degrees.

The "stay at home" slogan will be ditched on Monday and replaced with "let’s take this next step safely" as part of the Government's latest advertising blitz.

There is no specific limit on how far you can travel - but the Government is advising people to stay local and urging the public to use their common sense.

People can now travel to meet friends or family in another county or town but bans on indoor visits and overnight stays remain in place.

People who can work from home should continue to do so, despite the ‘stay at home’ order lifting.

Millions of people shielding from coronavirus will be able to leave their homes in Thursday April 1.

More than 3.79 million people in England deemed clinically extremely vulnerable have been asked to shut themselves away for months.

But the Government recently announced that the guidance would end on April 1 and patients would receive updated information.