Residents say Brighton and Hove beach is busy, despite a police checkpoint on the A23 fining motorists for breaching lockdown rules. 

Pictures sent to the paper show hundreds of people on the beach, some with giant umbrellas to block out the sunshine and others heading into the water on paddleboards. 

Groups of people are sitting on the beach from Yellowave Beach Sports Venue in Madeira Drive, to the King Alfred in Hove. 

HM Coastguard recorded a spike in incidents on Bank Holiday Friday, which was 54 per cent more than the previous month’s average.

One reader, who sent in a photo of the beach, said: “I have not seen my parents in seven weeks, I have followed the Government directions and even more so that my father is high risk.

“Why does the motto ‘stay at home to help the NHS’ not apply to Hove beach? 

“My parents live in a flat, and are unable to open go out for their daily exercise as the beach has continued to be jam-packed? 

“It makes me so sad knowing my parents are in the flat, watching this view of the beach, missing their family because we are all following the rules.”

A Twitter user jokingly remarked the beach “looks like when FatboySlim headlined”.

Big Beach Boutique II  saw about a quarter of a million people attend a party hosted by the DJ on the beach in 2002. 

Boris Johnson is expected to ease lockdown measures tomorrow at 7pm. 

However, restrictions introduced on March 23 remain in place. 

You should only leave or be away from your home for limited purposes. 

These include shopping for necessities, for example, food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible.

As well as any medical need, including to donate blood, avoid injury or illness, escape risk of harm, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.

You are allowed one form of exercise a day, for example, a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household.

However, people should do this locally. 

A police checkpoint is turning away cars trying to get into Brighton as bored families break coronavirus lockdown.

Traffic police officers are stopping motorists at the end of the A23 into Patcham.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “It’s not a dedicated coronavirus stop-check, but as part of the routine stop-check, we are asking people why they are here, where they are going and turning them around if they do not have a purpose.

“We will be issuing fines if necessary.”

The stop-check is expected to last all day, the spokesman added.

Officers had already stopped and fined carloads of people breaking lockdown trying to get to the beach before noon.

Residents cheered as tourists were turned away, voicing their support for police efforts to maintain social distancing by keeping visitors out of the city over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Traffic police officers from Surrey and Sussex Road Policing Unit stopped dozens of cars at a proactive checkpoint.

It is reported that they had issued 12 fines and turned around 19 cars after stopping around 65 before 11am and that one car was sent back more than 100miles to Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire.

Visitors must stay away from Brighton as the seaside basks in a bank holiday weekend heatwave.

People should only be using the beach if they live locally, the city council leader has said, as forecasters predict soaring temperatures over the weekend.

Certain parts of Hove beach were busy yesterday, but people were generally observing social distancing regulations by remaining at least two metres apart.

On Friday, with the seaside set to enjoy a mini-heatwave, Brighton and Hove City Council leader Nancy Platts reiterated the “visitors must stay away” message in a bid to keep the city safe.

Labour’s Cllr Platts said: “We do not want to undo the work we have already done.

“Whilst we have seen the curve of people being hospitalised with the virus coming down, we would not want to see it go back up.

“We still need people to stay away if they don’t live here and, if you do live here, go out locally.”

Temperatures reached 21C yesterday and are expected to reach similar levels today.

However, the mercury is expected to dip to 16C tomorrow, with forecasters predicting a windy washout.

At 7pm tomorrow, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce some easing of the lockdown restrictions.

Cllr Platts said: “We will stick to the Government guidelines before taking any action.

“We understand that people are anxious to get back to work and keen to be open and trading.
“We also understand that people are worried about the health of themselves and family members if lockdown is eased too quickly.

“We understand both perspectives, and we are going to have to go through what it looks like for businesses to open safely.”

City leaders are beginning to explore options to reopen the city safely, which includes pedestrianising streets, improving cycle routes, and creating one-way areas.