THE number of people travelling on the county's roads is far higher than that experienced in the first national lockdown.

Police have revealed that on February 1 2021, traffic flow in the Dorset Council area was 94 per cent higher than the first lockdown, though it was 37 per cent lower than on the same day in 2020.

Chief Constable James Vaughan said: "This lockdown has allowed more economic activity to continue so it is not that we've got 94 per cent more people flouting the rules, generally people in Dorset have been very good at sticking to the rules - we just need to keep going and stop the spread of the virus."

Councillor Spencer Flower, leader of Dorset Council said: “I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who is continuing to follow Government advice to stay at home where possible. It is more important than ever that we all carry on acting responsibly, as the large majority of residents are doing in Dorset.

“We know how hard this lockdown is, with us all being affected by the restrictions in some way, but the light really is at the end of the tunnel as vaccines are rolled out every day to our most vulnerable people and front line workers. Please, continue to stay home and stay local this half term.”