High Beech, Loughton, beset by Covid guideline breakers

However, with temperatures soaring to highs of 13°c many people chose to flout lockdown rules and have gather in the sun for drinks and picnics.

England is still in a national lockdown. Under the rules, you may leave the home to exercise with your household (or support bubble) or one other person, in which case you should stay two meters apart.

In a news report aired on Saturday, February 27, BBC footage revealed massive crowds in High Beech ignoring the current coronavirus rules.

A reporter described the car parks and surround areas as “absolutely packed”.

Pictures show High Beech following a gathering at the end of June last year. Photos: COLC

Faye, owner of the Kings Oak Pub café, told the BBC the long lines of customers was good for business, but hard to manage.

She said: “Today was special, as you can see, we are really busy. We are asking people to distance themselves. It’s not actually working at the moment, but I will go back and spread them out again!”

High Beech was often the site of anti-social behaviour and large lockdown-breaking gatherings last year.

Fighing erupted as large numbers gathered in High Beech in May of last year. Photo: @CrimeLDN

In May a man was arrested after a fight broke out amongst party-like scenes on the green outside the Kings Oak Pub just days before lockdown measures were set to be eased.

In July, the City of London Corporation – who run Epping Forest – warned people littering at the site faced increased fines following several boozy weekends on the green, with empty drinks scattered across the areas, after revellers flocked for miles to get drunk with friends

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