A man has been fined for flouting coronavirus lockdown rules in Florence, after he was spotted canoeing in the Arno river, in Florence.

Police saw the 60-year-old rowing his canoe when they used a drone to carry out checks in the area to identify anyone breaking the rules of Italy’s lockdown.

According to local reports, the man was seen as the drone flew over the riverbed near Piazza Ravenna, east of the city centre, on Easter Sunday.

Through the drone, police saw him dock his canoe at the jetty of a sports association in the area. But when officers arrived by motorcycle at the spot, he had already left, reported Firenze Today.

It took several days for police to identify and locate the man, who reportedly told them upon being fined he had been “taking the canoe to go shopping”.

He was reportedly fined €280 for carrying out a prohibited activity during the lockdown.

Italians have been confined to strict lockdown measures since 9 March, and are not allowed to leave their homes except for essentials and work.

More than 20,000 people have died in Italy because of coronavirus, but there are signs the infection rate is starting to slow.

A small number of shops and businesses have been allowed to reopen, but some of the hardest-hit regions in northern Italy have decided to maintain their measures for longer.