Camping is one of the great past-times of the nation, and the camping season is normally in full swing at this time of year.

However, as the country slowly starts to venture out after months of lockdown isolation, and people are now able to travel for days out, some have started to push the limits.

Dozens of people have started to travel into the Lake District and set up camp, which is still against government guidelines.

Police officers, along with a dozen other agencies, have been trying to tackle these camps and move the people on. Cumbria police are expecting a busy weekend, similar to a busy bank holiday, and are being forced to put extra patrols on to help tackle any public order offences as there is no law to enforce social distancing.

This weekend will see pubs, bars and restaurants reopening that have been closed since the pandemic triggered the lockdown. However, there will still be restrictions in place designed to protect people from infection.

Hoping people who do use this newfound freedom do it in a safe way, Assistant Chief Constable Andrew Slattery, chairman of Cumbria’s Local Resilience Forum, said: “We’re working very hard to keep everyone safe and we’re disappointed by the number of people camping against government guidelines.

“If people do wish to visit that is fine but do so responsibly. Take you’re rubbish with you and leave without a trace.”

As the pubs, bars and restaurants open this weekend the police are prepared for the influx of people, Mr Slattery added: “We expect that the weekend will be like a busy bank holiday as people are desperate to get out but we want to make sure people adhere to social distancing and keep safe.

“We will have extra patrols round key locations where there will be a larger number of people.”

Colin Cox, Cumbria’s director of public health, said: “Where possible, we should continue to stay two metres apart or ‘one metre plus’ additional safety precautions”. such as wearing a face covering, when it is not always possible to stay two metres apart.

“Together we’ve managed to lower the infection rate across Cumbria; for the sake of all our key workers, friends and family members and those who have sadly passed away, let’s not allow the virus to come roaring back.”