POLICE and local authority bosses say they will not change their approach or advice towards people leaving their homes despite being receiving guidance that it is “lawful to drive for exercise”.

North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire County Council and the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors national park authorities have again appealed for people to stay at home after Crown Prosecution Service advice categorically stating people can get in their cars to visit places to exercise was published.

The document, published by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the professional standards body the College of Policing, says public statements made soon after the adoption of the lockdown regulations had suggested members of the public could leave their homes only if “essential” to do so.

However, it has highlighted that driving to the countryside and walking – where more time is spent doing the latter than the former – is among a list of reasonable excuses for Britons leaving their home during the coronavirus lockdown.

The advice has received a mixed response across the county, with some welcoming the apparent permission for residents to make short journeys to exercise, while others say it has left some rural residents petrified about the virus being spread.

Hawes councillor Jill McMullon described the advice as “an open invitation for the virus to come” to the Yorkshire Dales. She said: “People are very frightened and some are actually shaking with fear. It’s a ridiculous situation now as the car parks and toilets are closed, so where are walkers going to go?”

David Butterworth, chief executive of the Yorkshire Dales authority said its Ranger Service would support police in the park over the weekend, encouraging people to exercise locally and not make “special journeys to access the countryside”.

The chairman of the North York Moors National Park Authority, Jim Bailey, said while was vital that people did not converge on the park to interact in large groups, the area’s footpaths were an important resource for local residents. He said: “The national park has to close, but we want to help where we can for local people to exercise.”

Stokesley councillor Bryn Griffiths said he understood the concerns of national park residents, but welcomed the guidance for people in the surrounding area who had been cooped up, providing they only drove short distances and observed social distancing.

However, assistant chief constable Mike Walker said the force understood asking people to continue to stay at home is challenging, especially at weekends when the weather is good. He said the Crown Prosecution Service guidance regarding what constitutes a reasonable journey still required police officers to use their judgement and discretion to assess each situation.

Mr Walker said: “This does not change our policing approach in North Yorkshire and our officers will continue to use their professional judgement. In some circumstances we may have to use enforcement as a last but necessary resort, to keep the public safe. Our task remains unchanged and we will be continuing our high-visibility patrols and engaging, explaining and encouraging members of the public to continue to follow the guidance.

“The truth is stark – if you do travel further than you absolutely have to, you are risking the spread of the virus, your own lives and that of others.”

Richard Flinton, chief executive of the county council, said: “Although we are absolutely not out of the woods – far from it – we are not seeing the surge in demand for critical care beds that some other areas have seen and our health and social care services are coping, despite this unprecedented challenge.

“Remember we are all in this together and it is by sticking together we will fight this terrible virus and be able to enjoy our families, friends and work colleagues and beautiful county properly again.”