DESPITE pleas from local authorities urging people not to flock to beaches and beauty-spots, hordes of day-trippers headed to West Somerset last weekend – the first since lockdown restrictions were relaxed.

Car parks at Minehead, Dunster Beach, Watchet, Allerford and Porlock and tourist attractions like Tarr Steps were packed, despite shops, cafés and hotels being officially closed.

Minehead resident Paul Morris said: “When I walked my dog on Saturday afternoon on Minehead seafront, cars were parked nose-to-tail from Butlin’s to the harbour. There were also several hundred people on the beach.

“There was no suggestion that they had broken the lockdown rules but that number of people coming into the town must surely increase the risk of spreading coronavirus.”

There were also reports of campervans and caravans breaking crisis travel rules by parking overnight in lay-bys at Blue Anchor and Doniford, on Dunster’s North Hill and on Exmoor.

John Madeley, an early morning walker on North Hill, said: “I counted half a dozen motorhomes along the coast road which had obviously been there all night but none of the occupants I talked to thought they had done anything wrong.”

Exmoor National Park Ranger Richard Eales said: “The increased presence of motorhomes and people having barbecues in the park is a concern, with local fire crews already having dealt with one near miss.

“We are continuing to maintain a Ranger presence on Exmoor and working with local police to encourage positive behaviour and monitor visitor pressure.”

He added: “Authority-run car parks and public toilets have reopened and we saw a steady stream of people using them last weekend. People were generally being sensible and following social distance guidelines but there were reports pf people meeting up in groups and not adhering to the two-metre rule, which is worrying.”

This week , local MP Ian Liddell-Grainger added his advice to people visiting Exmoor: “There are miles of very narrow footpaths where social distancing is a real challenge, and they are best avoided,” he said.

“On the other hand, there are plenty of broad tracks and open moorland which can be used in complete safety, and it obviously makes sense for people to restrict themselves to those.”

Local coastguards also reported “a massive increase in the use of the coast” after the relaxation of lockdown restrictions and were advising visitors to park sensibly and to observe social distancing on the beach.

A spokesman said: “It was a stark contrast to the previous eight weeks of lockdown which saw beaches virtually deserted. During our weekend patrols we saw people fishing from the shoreline, beach-scavengers, dog-walkers, families, and kayakers launching from the beaches.”

Minehead town and district councillor Terry Venner, whose ward includes the seafront, said: “A lot of elderly residents told me they were very worried about the influx of visitors to the town over the weekend, and I understand their concerns.

“On the other hand, to be realistic, we can’t stay in lockdown for ever and Minehead relies on the holiday trade. So long as people behave responsibly and stick to the rules, I think we should welcome them back.”