POLICE issued 13 fines for breaching Covid regulations after a number of drivers held a car meet in a car park in Basildon – right opposite the town's police station.

Officers were at work on Wednesday evening when they became aware of the meet-up going on across the road, in Great Oaks car park.

When officers arrived, they found a group of drivers in the car park who had met up to inspect each other's vehicles - a hobby which is against the Government's coronavirus regulations.

After the fines were issued, the drivers were dispersed.

A police statement says: "As we move into the weekend, we would like to remind any car enthusiasts thinking of meeting up not to – your cars will be just as interesting when restrictions are lifted."

And Essex Police roads policing officer PS Steve Parish added: "Since the start of the pandemic we have been impressed with how well car enthusiasts have adhered to the Government's Stay at Home message.

"And we would ask them to keep doing that. Getting together for a meet is not permitted under the current regulations.

"We understand you, like anyone with an active hobby, are desperate to get back to normality but we have some way to yet to go before we can do that.

"Please continue to stick to the rules and keep yourself, your loved ones and our officers safe."