Police have stopped a family on their way to Brighton for a day out because they were "bored of being in and wanted some fresh air" during the coronavirus lockdown.

Kent Police said the vehicle was stopped at Clacket Lane services on the M25 amid the sweeping restrictions designed to halt the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

The force's roads policing unit tweeted that the driver was on the phone and had three children in the car who were not wearing a seatbelt.

Image: The family were hoping to enjoy some fresh air in Brighton

The driver also had no insurance, police said.

Kent Police's tweet included a picture of the vehicle being loaded onto the back of a lorry, along with the hashtags #NotReallyAppropriate and #StayHomeSaveLives.


Stopped at Clacket Lane Services. No insurance. None licence holder. On phone. 2 under 12's unrestrained. 1 baby unrestrained. En-route to Brighton for a day out as bored of being in and wanted some fresh air. #NotReallyAppropriate #StayHomeSaveLives SL pic.twitter.com/wc5wnmTYIt — Kent Police RPU #StayHomeSaveLives (@kentpoliceroads) April 20, 2020

A spokesperson for the force said: "At around 1pm on Monday 20 April, officers from Kent Police's Roads Policing Unit stopped a vehicle after they spotted the driver using a mobile phone on the westbound carriageway of the M25 prior to the Clacket Lane motorway service area.

"The driver, a man in his 30s from the Romford area, was reported for using a mobile phone whilst driving, driving while three child passengers were not wearing seatbelts and driving without insurance.

"As the occupants were not from the area they were reminded of their personal responsibilities in relation to the government's instructions around essential travel.

"The uninsured vehicle was seized and the group made their own arrangements to return home."

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The lockdown was introduced in the UK last month and will run until at least 7 May, when the government will review the measures once more.