PARENTS are being told to keep their children at home - or face fines.

Weymouth Neighbourhood Policing Team received reports of anti-social behaviour at The Marsh playing fields on Monday night.

Despite warnings from officers, more youngsters were moved from the playing fields yesterday.

A spokesman for the team said: “We would like to remind the public and parents to keep your children in and to avoid them meeting up in large gatherings.

“Not only is this a breach of the Covid-19 guidelines, this can put your children and others safety at risk. We will also be enforcing fines to parents for children we find in large gatherings.

“We will be continuing to patrol the area during our shifts.”

Police patrolling the Great Field in Poundbury yesterday saw children still congregating in the play area. After liaising with the Duchy, officers had to tape the play areas off. While doing so, they saw different families using the outdoor gym equipment - and so they have been taped of to stop them being used.

A spokesman for Dorchester police said: “We did not enjoy having to do this, in fact, we were saying how awful it was to be shutting down a play area in such beautiful weather. However, we all need to play our part in stopping the spread of this virus. As tough as this may be we all have to take the Government guidelines seriously.”

It comes as police appeal for witnesses after a Portland teenager allegedly coughed at a police community support officer and told her “I’ve got coronavirus.”

The 18-year-old has been charged with assaulting an emergency worker, a breach of Covid-19 (coronavirus) guidelines by being in a group of three or more and a public order offence following an incident in Shaftesbury on Monday March 30.

He is due to appear in court this month. Last week, Dorset Police Chief Constable James Vaughan warned that anyone who deliberately flouts the new rules ‘will face the full force of the law.’ He said: “I have been appealing for the public to co-operate and need to emphasise that individuals who deliberately flout this will face the full force of the law. We are determined to keep people safe and reduce the loss of life from this dangerous virus.

“We must all do our part to pull together and protect our loved ones, our friends, colleagues and neighbours. These powers are in place to save lives. Please stay at home.”