TWENTY SIX people have been fined after flocking to a North Hampshire industrial estate for a car meet up.

The group, many of whom were in their twenties, descended on Blacknest Industrial Estate in Alton on Saturday night, with some travelling from Surrey, Kent, Berkshire and even Shropshire to be there.

Police officers were called at around 8.15pm on January 23 to disperse the meet.

They blocked off the car park, enabling those present to be identified, and after engaging, explaining and encouraging members to observe current lockdown restrictions, 26 people were reported for summons "for blatant breaches of the regulations".

BMWs, Nissans and Toyotas had gathered in the car park, with people inside the cars from different households and many not wearing face coverings.

Superintendent Phil Lamb said: “This was an excellent piece of team working by officers from Neighbourhoods, Response and Patrol, and Roads Policing, following a clearly unacceptable gathering during the current pandemic.

“While our approach to engage, explain, and encourage people to follow the Health Protection Regulations continues, it was obvious that enforcement was required in these circumstances.

“Some of those people that officers spoke to accepted personal responsibility, but others were extremely defensive. It’s shocking that such a large number of people have completely ignored the current lockdown, thereby putting themselves and their loved ones at risk from the virus. It’s reckless actions like this that place increased and unnecessary pressure on the NHS.

“As per the government guidance, ‘stay local’ means stay in the village, town or part of the city where you live. The guidance strongly requests that people do not leave their local area.

“We all have a responsibility to follow both the regulations and the guidance in place to protect the NHS and save lives. I’d like to thank the vast majority of people in our communities who have been working hard to follow the rules, those who do not follow the regulations in place to limit the spread of the virus should expect to receive a fine.”

The case will now be processed by ACRO, who deal with fixed penalty notices on behalf of police forces across the country.

Its website states that if it is not paid within 28 days, the group could appear in court.

As previously reported by The Gazette, a man from Basingstoke was fined for breaching lockdown rules after holding a house party in Popley.

Police were called on January 16 to Guernsey Close after reports an illegal house party was happening.

When they attended the address, they found six people, four of whom did not live there.

One of the organisers, a 27-year-old man, was reported for summons.

The story went viral after the party-goers told officers that they were unaware of the Covid pandemic, because they did not watch the news.

Under coronavirus laws police have the power to issue fixed penalty notices of £200 to first-time offenders, and fixed penalty notices of up to £10,000 for holding or being involved in the holding of an unlawful gathering.

Last week, it was announced that people attending house parties during lockdown will be fined a minimum of £800.