Walkers at country park between Kettering and Thrapston urged to be responsible

Walkers at Twywell Hills and Dales have been urged to be responsible in light of social distancing orders during the coronavirus crisis.

The car park to the country park, just off Junction 11 of the A14 between Kettering and Thrapston, has been closed to try and prevent large numbers travelling for their daily dose of exercise.

But over the weekend a poster was put up nearby suggesting people were not listening to orders to only travel when essential.

It said: "Despite the UK lockdown over 200 individuals walked down this snicket yesterday.

"MOST touched this post. ALL touched the turnstile...NONE were wearing gloves or using disinfectant!"

There were suggestions on social media that between 30 and 40 cars, unable to use the car park, were parked on nearby roads.

One social media post said: "Just remember you are bringing the danger of this virus to our village."

The site is managed by The Land Trust and estates manager Charles Langtree said they cannot close public footpaths.

He said feedback he had received was that visitor numbers were not that high but urged anyone with fears to be responsible.

He said: "What we are trying to do is make sure people use the ones [green spaces] local to them by closing the car park.

"Two weeks ago we saw more cars there than the car park can take.

"But the feedback I am getting is that we are not getting anywhere near the number of visitors (that the poster said). Somebody said they hadn't seen a soul there for three days.

"I would think the site is plenty big enough to find some space to keep away from people. If you go there and it's too busy, be responsible and go home."