ROADS are being closed this weekend to help with social distancing as pubs and restaurants reopen.

Pier Road in Whitby will be closed from 10.30am on Saturday and Sunday for as long as necessary to help keep expected crowds apart.

The landward side of Foreshore Road in Scarborough will also be closed to traffic between 10am and 5pm again this weekend, with some parking bays suspended.

The decision has been made by North Yorkshire County Council, Scarborough Borough Council and North Yorkshire Police.

Richard Marr, Highways Area Manager, said: “We are concerned that the reopening of many businesses on the seafront will draw large crowds over the weekend.

"There is a particular fear on Pier Road, where social distancing would be hard to maintain if the road were to remain open.

“We are pleased to welcome visitors back to Whitby but urge people to be aware of the restrictions in place.

"Everybody has a role to play. We apologise for any inconvenience the closure may cause but it is a decision we had to make to ensure public safety.”

Stuart Clark, Scarborough Borough Council parking, CCTV and venues manager, said: “The number of people visiting Whitby since the coronavirus restrictions started to ease has increased significantly each week.

"This is great news for local businesses, but we do need to ensure people have the best chance possible to practice social distancing and stay safe, especially with the reopening of hospitality businesses from tomorrow.

“Working with North Yorkshire County Council, we’ve identified Pier Road as a particularly busy area, exacerbated by narrow pavements, so closing the road to traffic will help pedestrians to enjoy Whitby more safely.”

There are a number of measures in place across the county to help maintain social distancing and encourage more active travel. Full details go to northyorks.gov.uk/social-distancing-measures