The Easter weekend proved busy for police after they stopped a number of vehicles trying to enter Cornwall for an Easter break - and even collect a second hand boat.

On Saturday members of the Alliance Roads Policing team and armed response vehicle officers turned around two vehicles within the first five minutes of setting up on the A30.

The teams were checking that vehicles were only carrying out essential journeys - and not everyone was complying.

The Alliance team said: "A weekend break in Cornwall is not essential.

"Two vehicles turned around and drivers dealt with within five minutes of setting up.

"To everyone else, thank you for staying at home."

Easter Sunday also saw drivers being stopped and questioned - including one who was towing a boat and subsequently broke down near Bodmin.

Unfortunately for the driver this led to a visit from the police, who said afterwards: "Driving across the county - and then breaking down on a hill - to collect the second hand boat you just bought is not an essential journey either.

"Driver reported."

On the same day a BMW driver was reported for taking a 170-mile round trip to "have a break" from his family.

The Alliance team said: "Taking your BMW out for a spin on a 170-mile round trip to have a break from the wife and three kids is also not an essential journey!

"The roads are much quieter but there are still people who don't get it. Driver reported on the A30 near Launceston."

Vehicles were also being stopped in the run up to the bank holiday weekend.

On Thursday two vehicles were seized in St Austell having travelled down from out of the county.

Some occupants were arrested, with Covid-19 fines issued to others.

South West Farmer:

A quiet Castle Beach in Falmouth on Easter Sunday. Photo: Falmouth and Helston Police

It was a quieter picture in Falmouth and on the Lizard Peninsula, with police posting pictures of empty beaches.

They included a deserted Castle Beach in Falmouth on Easter Sunday, with the local police reporting on their Facebook page: "We are all getting used to the legislation now, but there is no room for complacency.

"Ask yourself each time if your journey outside your home is necessary."

It was a similar scene in the run up to the bank holiday weekend, with the Helston police team showing a quiet Poldhu on Thursday.

South West Farmer:

Poldhu was empty when police visited in the run up to the bank holiday. Photo: Falmouth and Helston Police

They said: "Bank holiday is looming and the weather is good. It's so good to see that even with this, people are heeding the instructions to stay home.

"Here's an empty Poldhu beach and an empty car park in the background."

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