A teenager who travelled ten miles for a coffee with his girlfriend has been handed a fine for breaking Covid rules.

Essex Police has been sharing examples of where people have flouted the rules and action has been taken. 

In this case an 18-year-old man travelled from West Mersea to Colchester for a coffee.

But he had to add the cost of an fixed penalty notice to the price of his drink after he picked up his girlfriend, from a different household, to keep him company.

Rules of the third national lockdown mean you cannot leave your home to meet socially with anyone you do not live with or are not in a support bubble with.

You can meet someone from outside your household for exercise but this should be in your local area. 

The Government guidelines state: "You cannot meet other people you do not live with, or have not formed a support bubble with, unless for a permitted reason.

"Stay 2 metres apart from anyone not in your household or support bubble.

"You may exercise on your own, with one other person, or with your household or support bubble.

"This should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area."

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A spokesman for Essex Police said: "If you are thinking about organising a social gathering or making a non-essential journey, please reconsider, stay safe and stop the unnecessary spread of Covid-19.

"Our officers will continue to take a common sense approach to the government’s regulations. They will continue to engage with people, explain the regulations and encourage them to do the right thing.

"But, where reasoned conversation is not successful, we will consider enforcement action. We will continue to respond to clear and blatant breaches and, where they occur, work with our partners to resolve them."