POLICE had to close the road to Cod Beck Reservoir near Osmotherley at the weekend.

Since the Government said that people may now travel any distance to exercise, various local beauty spots in North Yorkshire, such as Roseberry Topping and Cod Beck have been inundated with visitors, many parking illegally and dangerously on the sides of the road.

The hot weather brought many visitors to Cod Beck Reservoir and nearby Sheepwash, many double parking on the narrow road, making it impassable.

One local said: "It was unbelievable. We went up there for our usual walk and we couldn't get through. It was chaos. We had to turn round and come home. I've never seen it like that before."

The police said the road had become impassable, with 50 cars double-parked and 30 motorists given fines for blocking the road on Bank Holiday Monday, with a warning that Covid-19 is not over.

Officers said that the majority of vehicles had come from Teesside, which is a short drive away. Firefighters were called to put out a blaze at 1.20am the previous Friday, thought to have been started by a discarded barbecue.