Machibet LiveCooped-up Brits flock to parks in 25C heatwave - but some still sunbathe and flout social distancing rules | The Sun - Machibet Live

COOPED-UP Brits have today flocked to parks in 25C with some continuing to float social distancing rules.

A group of young women stopped to pose for a selfie outside during a bike ride to Buckingham Palace in central London this afternoon.

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A group of friends posed for a selfie during a bike ride to Buckingham Palace in central London todayCredit: Darren Fletcher - The Sun

These cyclists in Westminster did not keep two metres apartCredit: Dan Charity - The Sun

Members of the public flock to Richmond Park in South West London as temperatures are set to hit 25C this weekendCredit: London News Pictures

The seafront in Brighton was packed with cyclists this morningCredit: London News Pictures

Police speak to Brits sunbathing on Brighton beachCredit: London News Pictures

Hundreds also flocked to beaches in Weymouth and Brighton as Brits grow tired of the lockdown.

Officers were pictured today asking sunbathers to move on.

Brits were warned not to break the lockdown rules during in VE Day celebrations and not to sunbathe in parks over the weekend or "modest and small" new freedoms could be stopped.

Crowds also packed parks in the capital as a Government minister warned Brits to be prepared for "no dramatic change" to the lockdown rules.

Speaking at the Downing Street press briefing, George Eustice admitted there would be no big changes coming any time soon.

He said: "Any evolution of the current restrictions will be done with the utmost of caution.

"There isn’t going to be dramatic change in the short term.

"We will be cautiously making some changes where we think those can be considered and the PM will be setting out a timetable for other changes as well."

Mr Eustice also urged Brits to resist the "temptation" of breaching the restrictions during the sunny Bank Holiday.

NHS England medical director Stephen Powis suggested there had been a rise in the use of parks after the glorious weather.

LOCKDOWN CHANGES?

Boris Johnson is set to law out his "roadmap" out of lockdown on Sunday and it's expected to be lifted in stages.

The Prime Minister will meet with his cabinet on Sunday before revealing his “road map” for Britain in a televised address that evening.

He hopes to bring in small changes such as relaxing limits on exercise before looking at analysis to see what impact it has.

A Government source said: "It means we could lift restrictions once a fortnight rather than reviewing the lockdown every three weeks, as is currently the case.";

Another added: "You take a baby step, monitor the R rate really closely, satisfy yourself it's not leading to an increase in R, take another baby step and so on."

Meanwhile, cops are complaining that they are the “villains of the pandemic” as they prepare to crack down on Brits flouting social-distancing rules over the long weekend.

Officers expect an influx of day trippers visiting beaches and parks this weekend with temperatures set to hit 25C in southern parts of the UK across the weekend.

They fear there has been a “dilution” of the government’s message to stay at home as the country prepares for a lockdown announcement on Sunday.

Senior officers now feel they are perceived as the “villains” as they set out to remind those celebrating VE Day and the Bank Holiday to adhere to the strict lockdown rules.

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One told : “There is a certain amount of trepidation and frustration ahead of the weekend.

“We have always said we need a clear and consistent message from government to the public but there is now a view that things are being relaxed. A lot of people seem to have decided that it is all over.

“We are being asked to enforce the lockdown and we are going to be painted as villains once again when we stop people enjoying the sunshine and having VE Day parties with their neighbours.”

Today the UK coronavirus death toll rose to 31,241 today after 626 more fatalities were recorded.

The deadly bug has continued to spread across the country - with 211,364 cases after a 4,649 rise in the last 24 hours.

It includes a six-week-old baby believed to be the UK’s youngest victim.