Plymouth's streets are busier than they have been for weeks as the lockdown restrictions have been eased, starting today.

Today is the first day of the new and revised lockdown that Boris Johnson announced on Sunday evening.

A timelapse video shows the streets of Plymouth Hoe, the Barbican and further as people head out to enjoy the sunshine - and they're busier than they have been since the lockdown began on March 23.

Photos taken yesterday afternoon, before the restrictions were lifted, showed Plymouth's waterfront buzzing with people queuing for coffee and ice cream, with car parking spaces full up.

Today, the streets of Plymouth seem to be busier than they have been during the lockdown, but people appear to be following social distancing guidelines.

The new guidance brought into effect by the government allows people to enjoy unlimited exercise, and have the opportunity of meeting with one person from another household, so long as social distancing is maintained.

The advice came as the UK's COVID-19 death toll in all settings surpassed 40,000.

The new lockdown guidelines also allow people to drive to beauty spots for exercise, which has lead to many of the parking spaces on Plymouth's waterfront being filled today.

Crowds of people have flocked to Plymouth's waterfront this afternoon, after Boris Johnson announced changes to the lockdown restrictions earlier this week.
Crowds of people have flocked to Plymouth's waterfront after Boris Johnson announced changes to the lockdown restrictions earlier this week


Cars parked on The Hoe in Plymouth on the first day of eased lockdown restrictions
Cars parked on The Hoe in Plymouth on the first day of eased lockdown restrictions

This comes as today it was announced that police have been told they have “no powers” to enforce two-metre social distancing in England.

Fresh guidelines issued by the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs’ Council urges officers to only enforce what is written in law and that “Government guidance is not enforceable, for example two-metre distancing, avoiding public transport or the wearing of face coverings in enclosed spaces”.

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The new advice, set out in a document published and sent to police officers around the country comes after the Prime Minister announced changes to the lockdown restrictions that have come into place today, Wednesday, May 13.

Following the Prime Minister's speech on Sunday evening, Devon and Cornwall Police added a statement to their website, informing people that their approach to policing the response to the coronavirus outbreak is likely to change in many ways.

The statement reads: "Following the Prime Minister’s message to the country, we recognise these changes will alter our approach to policing the response to COVID-19. We will be working through these changes in the coming days and will update our Frequently Asked Questions as soon as possible."