COVID-19: Couple and child rescued after camping on cliff edge in coronavirus breach

A couple and a child had to be rescued after they set up camp on the edge of a cliff in breach of coronavirus restrictions, the coastguard said.

Teams from Staithes and Whitby Coastguard were called to reports of two adults and a child camping on a cliff edge in the North York Moors on Saturday.

They found the family inside a tent on the Cleveland Way stretch of coastline and gave them "safety advice due to the dangerous location of their tent".

North Yorkshire Police was also called because the family had breached COVID-19 restrictions by travelling there, the coastguard said. It is not clear if they were given a fine.

But "especially with recent landslips", they were warned the location was unsafe.

A Staithes Coastguard spokesperson said: "Today's call was to attend a section of the Cleveland Way to issue safety advice to two adults and a child camping on the cliff edge.

"An officer from North Yorkshire Police also attended due to breach of coronavirus restrictions.

"If walking the Cleveland Way please stay on designated footpaths."

Staying overnight away from your home - except for essential purposes - is illegal under national lockdown restrictions in England.

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