MORE than 20 people were caught breaching lockdown rules for a car meet in a Hampshire town at the weekend - some from as far afield as Shropshire.

Twenty-six people, many in their twenties, were found by officers at around 8.15pm on Saturday (January 23) at Blacknest Industrial Estate, Alton.

The group was discovered with a large number of vehicles after officers were alerted by a resident to a disturbance on the industrial estate.

Officers then blocked off the car park to identify the rule-breakers.

Cars including BMW’s, Nissan’s, and Toyota’s had gathered and officers said some of the drivers had come from addresses in Surrey, Kent, Berkshire, and even Shropshire.

The group has now been reported for summons in relation to fixed penalty notices for "blatant breaches of the regulations".

People inside the cars were from different households and many were not wearing face coverings.

Superintendent Phil Lamb said: "Some of those people that officers spoke to accepted personal responsibility, but others were extremely defensive.

"It’s shocking that such a large number of people have completely ignored the current lockdown, thereby putting themselves and their loved ones at risk from the virus. It’s reckless actions like this that place increased and unnecessary pressure on the NHS.

"As per the government guidance, ‘stay local’ means stay in the village, town or part of the city where you live. The guidance strongly requests that people do not leave their local area."