Don't jeopardise the national success so far against Covid-19 by visiting the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales national parks.

That's the message from both park authorities and North Yorkshire Police. All three are urging the public to stay at home and exercise in their own neighbourhood this weekend.

Assistant chief constable Mike Walker said: "If we continue to follow the guidance to stay home, we will continue to see a slowing in the spread of COVID-19, meaning the virus will be beaten all the sooner. That’s why we are again asking residents of North Yorkshire and those who live outside the area, but love to visit, to please work with us and stay home this weekend.

“This is not about trying to find justification for a day out or loopholes to side step the advice. The truth is stark – if you do travel further than you absolutely have to, you are risking the spread of the virus, your own lives and that of others."

David Butterworth, Chief Executive of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority said: “Exercise should be done locally, and people should not be making special journeys to access the countryside. Our Ranger Service will once again be supporting North Yorkshire Police in the National Park over the weekend, encouraging people to heed this advice."

Andy Wilson, Chief Executive of the North York Moors National Park Authority, said:"Government guidance remains the same. We must all continue to take responsibility for helping to slow the spread of COVID-19 and we can do this by simply staying at home and avoiding all nonessential travel."

All three were speaking as Government ministers and advisers say that the national lockdown has slowed the spread ot the coronavirus. Earlier today 847 more hospital deaths were reported and the Government says the number of hospital admissions is slowing.

But the Government warns the epidemic is far from over and earlier to day and is warning against booking summer holidays in the UK or abroad.