Police visit Diglis pub after claims people ignored lockdown rules

Officers visited The Anchor Inn next to the Diglis Marina after reports people were sitting on benches outside of the pub to eat and drink.

Government guidance states that sitting on a park bench for a ‘short pause’ during exercise is reasonable, but that you shouldn’t leave home to sit on a bench and drink coffee or socialise.

One Worcester resident, who didn’t want to be named, said: “The Anchor still has benches left out which encourages people to linger on the public footpath, and Cafe Afloat is very busy.”

A spokesman for The Anchor pub said: “The police have come down to the pub and have said we are running the business correctly, following Covid-19 procedures and are happy. It’s the very few with nothing better to do than complain and waste police time. People come to The Anchor to support the local business, get out for fresh air and exercise, and get the kids out because people love to walk around the river and marina.

“This has to be great for mental health and well being, and all customers are provided with hand sanitiser, masks, and track and trace, and all staff are happy to work and all have face masks.”

David Price, who owns Cafe Afloat, said: “We do encourage people to disperse as soon as they have got their purchases. We will look to get permission to put some two metre signs on the floor, but the land the people are walking on is not under our control.

“We are quite busy, and we’re on the main walking route where people walk down the river, but I will look to put a post on Facebook to raise concerns that people are congregating, although I noticed yesterday that people were spread out and at least two metres apart.”

A spokeswoman for the Canal and River Trust, said: “While our towpaths remain open for local use for daily exercise, we are asking people to follow the Government’s guidance around social distancing at all times, and be considerate of moored boats where people may be living aboard.”