By Lewis Berrill @LewisBerrill Chief reporter - east London and west Essex
News footage shows crowds flocked to High Beech, Loughton, this weekend spurred by the warm weather. Photos: BBC News Crowds flocked to High Beech in Loughton on Saturday to make the most of sparkling February sun and Spring temperatures. 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 June, traders returning to a reopened market criticised lack of organisation for losing them business. Waltham Forest Council announced that Walthamstow High Street market would reopen, with stalls spread out to make social distancing easier. But some stallholders found themselves in a different part of the market, making it harder for their usual customers to find them, or even told there was no space. Fights broke out as large numbers of lockdown-flouting revellers gathered on a green in Epping Forest. Following the Government’s announcement that groups of six would be allowed to congregate from the following Monday onwards, crowds of revellers – who could not wait a few more days – flocked to Queen’s Green in High Beech that Saturday.