POLICE in Horsham have issued an update many officers may have hoped would not be necessary.

The force confirmed that gathering to smoke weed by some bins is "not a permitted reason to leave home" after catching a group doing just that.

Officers took to Twitter on Sunday to share their discovery, posting an image of a large joint seized during the incident.

A caption read: "Three people from separate households in Horsham today found out meeting together in a bin store to smoke cannabis. (This) is not a permitted reason to leave home."

Officers seized the cannabis from the trio and slapped each of them with a £200 fine for flouting lockdown laws.

Current government restrictions surrounding meeting people state: "It is against the law to meet socially with family or friends unless they are part of your household or support bubble.

"You cannot leave home for recreational or leisure purposes (such as for a picnic or a social meeting)."