Warning over Brighton New Year's Eve 'freedom' party

The city saw anti-lockdown protests before Christmas

People tempted to attend a New Year's Eve party on Brighton seafront have been warned by police to stay away.

A group called Protest Everywhere has advertised the "freedom protest street party" and asked people "to bring a bottle, drums, music, firewood, love and joy".

Independent councillor Nichole Brennan said it was "madness" and Sussex Police said Covid rules would be enforced.

The BBC has been unable to contact the organisers.

The event comes after anti-lockdown protests were held in the city in the run-up to Christmas.

'Think hard'

Sussex joined other areas of the country in tier four on Boxing Day, placing it in the highest level of restrictions under which people can meet one other person from another household, if both are alone in an open public space.

The restrictions came in amid rising infection rates and the fast spread of the new virus variant.

After the event was advertised, Ms Brennan said: "I don't think now many people will actually attend and I do believe that the police will take this incident very, very seriously, not because they want to be authoritarian - they want to keep our city and our NHS safe."

She urged people to think long and hard and she asked: "Is it really worth the risk?"

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A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: "We are aware of an event in Brighton planned for New Year's Eve and are engaging with the organisers.

"Gatherings of more than two people from different households outside are not allowed under current tier 4 restrictions - these have been imposed to curb infection rates of the new more transmissible variant of the virus.

"We will continue policing the restrictions. Where there are blatant breaches and flouting of these regulations then we will intervene, we will be robust and we will take enforcement.

"We recognise this is a difficult time, but urge everyone to work with us and help save lives."

The force said 11 fixed penalty notices were issued after officers were alerted to a house party on Wednesday night in Stanford Avenue.

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