The car park of a popular walking spot in Pembrokeshire has been closed on the advice of police.

Withybush Woods car park was closed on Tuesday night by Pembrokeshire County Council following advice from police that it was being used for social gathering, in breach of Covid-19 measures.

Visitors arrived on Wednesday (April 15) to find the car park blocked by fencing although a council spokesman has said the path around the woods remains open.

“It was closed last night on the advice of police as it was being used for social gatherings,” said a PCC spokesperson.

Dyfed-Powys Police added that it did contact the county council to advise that the car park be closed off.

This was “due to the volume of cars/visitors travelling to the woods, and it was becoming too crowded and people walking were no longer able to safely adhere to social distancing advice.

“Some people were also travelling quite a distance to use the woods, adding to the pressure on the area.”

National Park and National Trust car parks in Pembrokeshire have also been closed during the pandemic, along with stretches of the coastal path and some Rights of Way public footpaths in the county.

Welsh Government legislation has made restrictions to limit the spread of coronavirus the main ones being – requiring people to stay at home, except for very limited purposes such as shopping for food, travelling to work, one form of exercise or health care; closing certain businesses and venues and stopping all gatherings of more than two people in public, except when they are members of the same household or for certain other specific exceptions.

Restrictions stipulate that you should not be driving to beauty spots such as beaches to exercise or walk your dog.

‘The current guidelines are that you should only travel if it is essential. This means a day down the beach is not appropriate right now, no matter how sunny it is’ - states information on Dyfed-Powys Police website.

‘Travelling when it’s not essential has the potential to have an impact on already busy emergency services if something goes wrong. Also consider that there are now far fewer people around to raise the alarm if the worst should happen while you’re travelling or in a remote spot for exercise.

‘Running or cycling as part of a group is not permitted unless you live in the same household, and neither is meeting up with friends for non-contact sports such as golf or skateboarding.’