MORE than 250 on-the-spot fines have been issued to people breaking the lockdown laws in Dorset.

Figures released this afternoon by the National Police Chiefs' Council reveal 255 fines have been handed out in the county.

More than half of the fines handed out in Dorset were given to people from outside the county.

In the last few weeks police have reported many instances of people flouting the rules including people travelling hundreds of miles to visit beauty spots or take their dogs out for a walk.

On many occasions drivers have been turned around and escorted out of the county.

The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said 8,877 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) have been recorded by forces in England between March 27 and April 27, while 299 were issued in Wales over the same period.

Some 397 were for repeat offenders, with one person fined six times.

Police have been given powers to hand out a £60 penalty, that is reduced to £30 if paid within two weeks, for breaches of the Government's restriction of movement rules.

NPCC chairman Martin Hewitt said: "As the latest provisional figures on the number of fines issued show, the vast majority of people continue to do the right thing, staying at home in order to protect the NHS and help save lives.

"The figures also show our use of the enforcement powers remains proportionate with just 0.02% of the population in England being issued with a fine."