Covid: Northamptonshire's New Year party fines top 150

Police dispersed about 40 people from an event in Cranford, near Kettering

More than 150 fixed penalty notices were issued to people flouting the coronavirus restrictions on New Year's Eve, a police force has said.

Northamptonshire Police said officers attended more than 100 reports "related to parties or people meeting in houses".

They also dispersed about 40 people attending an unlicensed music event at Cranford, near Kettering.

Supt Elliot Foskett said its organisers were "irresponsible and reckless".

"Multiple fines" were issued to those attending and music equipment was seized, he added.

Northamptonshire moved into England's top tier four coronavirus restrictions on 00:01 GMT on New Year's Eve.

Lucy Wightman, director of public health for Northamptonshire, said the number of cases was "in a situation of exponential growth".

Supt Emma Jones said New Year's Eve was "a busy night" for officers who "had to deal with serious assaults, high risk missing people and safeguarding issues" as well as the people flouting the tier four restrictions.

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