Piers Morgan has heaped scorn on the ‘moronic’ Britons who ignored calls for social distancing and visited tourist spots this weekend despite the increasing severity of the coronavirus crisis.

This weekend thousands of people flouted Government warnings to stay indoors and beaches, beauty spots, parks and playgrounds were packed as Britons took advantage of the sunny spring weather.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain today, Piers Morgan blasted those who were ‘risking their lives and everybody else’s lives’ by ignoring the calls to self-isolate and adhere to social distancing advice.

He said: ‘What is wrong with people? Why would you want to be one of these morons, seriously? Do you not understand what is happening in this country? Do you not understand how serious it is?

‘When have you ever had to have been asked to do this stuff before? Answer: Never in your lifetimes, for almost everybody.

People packed Bournemouth esplanade Sunday morning. Paddle boarders and swimmers braved the cold temperatures despite fears over the global coronavirus outbreak

The GMB host hit out at the country’s leadership, saying Boris Johnson has been sending ‘mixed message after mixed message after mixed message’

‘Look at this, these are marketplaces – what are they doing open?… Nobody needs to go to a marketplace. Nobody needs to go to some tourist place. Nobody needs to go in groups and hang around drinking wine in parks.

‘Yes, they’re all morons; yes they’re risking their lives and everybody else’s lives. Yes, they’re ignorant, they don’t understand, they don’t get it.’

The GMB host also hit out at the country’s leadership, saying Boris Johnson has been sending ‘mixed message after mixed message after mixed message’, and not bringing in stricter sanctions.

Mr Morgan said: ‘We need clarity in this country, we don’t need a prime minister standing up there every few days saying ”here’s my advice”… These morons aren’t listening to you, prime minister.

‘They don’t care… it’s utterly, utterly moronic, but you are encouraging it with your lack of clarity.’

A landrover and trailer on the outskirts of Llyn Tegid at Bala Lake in North Wales telling visitors to go home

A landrover and trailer on the outskirts of Llyn Tegid at Bala Lake in North Wales telling visitors to go home

Visitors flocked to seaside resorts over the weekend including this one in West Bay, Dorset

Piers Morgan said: ‘This bomb is now going off in this country and it’s going to be aided and abetted by these people who just aren’t listening’

He added: ‘This bomb is now going off in this country and it’s going to be aided and abetted by these people who just aren’t listening.’

A new term, ‘Covidiot’, has been used on social media to describe those who were putting the health of the community at risk of Covid-19 by rubbing shoulders too closely with strangers last weekend.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has said people need to realise that the Government’s advice to keep social distance ‘isn’t a game’.

He said people can still go out for walks and take exercise, but added: ‘Lots of people sat out together in parks or on beaches. That isn’t sensible. We strongly discourage that.’

Some city and town centres took the message to heart, with many appearing deserted. But in other places it was busy as a bank holiday. Locals angered by incomers fleeing the virus put up signs to discourage them.

A picture showed a sign in Llanuwchllyn, Gwynedd, North Wales, reading: ‘No non-essential travel. So why are you here?’

Another image, shared by Judy Murray, mother of tennis star Sir Andy, showed a Land Rover and trailer by the lake at Bala, also in Gwynedd, spray-painted with the words: ‘Go home idiots. Covid-19.’