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Devon and Cornwall Police have warned drivers they will be fined if they are on the roads in breach of the COVID-19 coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

It comes after they stopped a driver who was towing a caravan down the A38 - and another who collecting supplies for a renovation project.

On twitter, the police said: "Car towing caravan stopped on A38. They felt today to be the right time to move their caravan from one town to another. Apparently the instructions weren’t simple enough.

"Advised they will be fined if this continues in the coming days!"

And the officers have revealed one driver caught flouting the the lockdown has already been fined this morning after he was caught using his mobile phone while collecting supplies for a renovation project.

"Is a road trip to collect supplies for your renovation a suitable reason to go out? We didn’t think so," said the officers.

"Driver issued a ticket also for using his mobile phone at Penn Inn, Newton Abbot."

The officers also said they were "deployed for public reassurance and to TRY and get the message out that you should not be out unless ABSOLUTELY necessary".

"Heed now or you will end up out of pocket and potentially in court. Please help us to help you"

Last night, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the people of the UK they must at home unless:

Essential shopping

Getting medical help

One form of exercise per day

Travelling to work if cannot work from home

The PM also announced that the police have been given authority to enforce the latest measures set out by Boris Johnson to keep the UK at home.

Addressing the nation last night, the Prime Minister revealed that officers have been given the power to fine members of the public who do not comply with the latest rules issued in an attempt to halt the spread of coronavirus.

It comes as confirmed cases of COVID-19 reached 6,650 as of 9am on March 23 with a total of 335 deaths.

Announcing the measures, Mr Johnson said: "From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction – you must stay at home.

"Because the critical thing we must do is stop the disease spreading between households.