FIVE people were fined for breaching Covid lockdown rules after the car they were in got stuck in a muddy field and police had to come to their rescue.

North Yorkshire Police were called to the Richmond area in the early hours of this morning after a passer-by spotted orange flashing lights in a field and raised the alarm.

Roads Police officers found a BMW stuck in a field and the driver claimed he had been visiting family and was travelling on the A66 when swerved to avoid something on the road and ended up in the field.

The five occupants of the vehicle, from County Durham, were issued with fixed penalty notices for making an unnecessary journey, about 40 miles from home, without a reasonable excuse. 

The Northern Echo:

A police spokesperson said: "The driver claimed he had swerved for "something" ending up in the field, his efforts to drive it out just bogged it down further prior to our arrival.

"Bizarrely the five occupants from County Durham had been visiting Nana - the journey of five miles between South Hetton and Peterlee had bizarrely extended to 40 miles, encompassing the Richmond area.

"Luckily Nana was safely at home and can await these five returning back complete with Covid fines issued.

"Our officers used two Police vehicles to stop the traffic whilst the recovery driver extracted the car from the field.

"All people having to come in one location unnecessarily just because people didn't stay home."

The Northern Echo: