Police forces across Wales are continuously having to deal with people who are flouting coronavirus lockdown rules.

From March 24, people living in the UK were instructed they could only leave home to exercise once a day, travel to and from work when it was "absolutely necessary", shop for essential items and fulfil any medical or care needs.

But while the vast majority obeyed the rules, many still breached the restrictions in the most extraordinary and annoying ways.

The restrictions then began to be relaxed and life started to return to some semblance of normality.

But a rise in cases in September, continuing into October, has seen some new restrictions, along with specific local lockdowns in some areas.

And that has led to some people breaching the rules once more. On Friday, October 9, South Wales Police said it was being called out on average 40 times a day to deal with potential breaches of coronavirus regulations.

The force detailed some of the incidents, including:

  • 12 people at one address in Porth, Rhondda, where an illegal house party was taking place;
  • A motorist who travelled from Aberystwyth to Merthyr Tydfil to buy a van;
  • A Bridgend homeowner who was warned by officers for having visitors to her home. She was given an FPN after officers were called back the same evening and found people hiding in the garden;
  • A man who persistently travelled from Cardiff to Rhondda Cynon Taf to attend the licensed premises at which he is a regular.
  • A woman from Swansea who returned from a foreign holiday and returned to work the following day instead of self-isolating as required.

However, it's not the only force in Wales which has dealt with coronavirus breach excuses.

Here are some of the most ridiculous excuses given to police in Wales since the start of lockdown:

'We didn't know the country was in lockdown'

Officers were left shocked after stopping three people in Pembrokeshire who claimed that they had no idea that the country was in lockdown as they didn't watch the news. The group claimed that they were dropping a friend home after a visit and had no idea what was going on in the country.

Travelling from Brighton to Tenby to pick up a camper van

Police pulled over this vehicle in west Wales

A driver was stopped and fined by police after he travelled by train from the south coast of England to west Wales to collect a camper van.

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police were carrying out lockdown checks near the Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire border on Wednesday, April 29 when they stopped a motorhome as it was travelling on the A477 near Red Roses. When officers pulled the vehicle over, the driver explained that he was on his way home - to Brighton.

According to the Pembrokeshire Roads Policing Team, the man had caught a train from Brighton in East Sussex to Tenby in Pembrokeshire to collect the motorhome. He was then in the process of driving it back home - a distance of more than 270 miles - when he was stopped.

Driving 120 miles to get stuck in sand

An excursion to the beach was not deemed an essential journey

Campers who drove from Hereford to Tenby for a night under the stars on the beach were fined for breaking lockdown rules, after getting themselves stuck.

On Thursday, April 30, officers from Dyfed-Powys Police in Tenby posted about the trip, which was deemed to be non-essential, on social media. An image of a car with its tyres seemingly stuck in sand was also shared. It was revealed that the occupants of the vehicle had travelled from Hereford to Tenby, a trip of around 120 miles, for a camping trip on the beach.

They removed signs blocking the entrance to the car park which said that it was closed. Once on the beach, they proceeded to get their vehicle stuck in the sand, taking up police time and costing them £430 in fines.

Driving 100 miles for a beach trip

Police pulled over a car for a noisy exhaust to discover the driver was on a road trip to the beach

A young driver from Gloucester and her two passengers heading to the beach at Aberystwyth were sent home by police after the car was pulled over for having a noisy exhaust.

Officers in Ceredigion initially stopped the silver Ford Fiesta for having a loud exhaust but immediately realised the three occupants were not local. The female driver had driven from Gloucester and picked up two friends in Hereford on the way to the Ceredigion coast. All three were reported for breaching lockdown rules and were sent back home by police on Monday, April 27.

Airbnb house party

On the weekend of Saturday, September 26, officers from South Wales Police were called to a gathering at an Airbnb of over 30 people.

The same weekend there was also a gathering of more than 100 people outside a student complex in the city.

Other visits by South Wales Police over that weekend included a party at a house in Cathays where more than 20 people were in attendance and an indoor party at a licenced premises in the Splott/Adamsdown area, where face masks were not being worn and social distancing rules were not being followed.

'For a spot of late night fishing'

A couple who were stopped by police at 1am firstly told officers that they were going to collect rice from a friend but were betrayed by their boot full of fishing gear and sat nav which had coordinates for Saundersfoot beach programmed into it.

'Because their new pet soon wouldn't be a puppy anymore'

Dyfed-Powys officers stopped people travelling from London, Luton, Bristol and Manchester to the region to buy or look at dogs. One man from Manchester responded to officers by telling them that his pet "wouldn't be a puppy anymore" if he waited until lockdown was over.

Claiming to be a key worker but really just out 'for a spin'

Police stopped a driver in west Wales who initially told them he was travelling on the road because he was a key worker

A man stopped by police while driving in west Wales told officers he was a key worker, before admitting that he wasn’t and that he was in fact just out for a spin.

As part of their stop checks, Dyfed-Powys Police stopped a 24-year-old man at around 4.40pm on Saturday, April 25, as he was driving along the A477 near Kilgetty, between St Clears and Pembroke.

According to the Pembrokeshire roads policing unit of Dyfed-Powys Police, he initially told them that the reason for his travel was that he was a key worker. However, he then changed his story and admitted to officers that he was, as the team described it, “out for a spin without any good reason”.

Coming from England to climb Pen y Fan and Snowdon

People from England were issued with fines after driving to Pen y Fan and Snowdon to walk.

Officers stopped ten people in two separate cars who had driven in convoy from London to climb Wales' highest peak. They were all reported for breaching Covid-19 legislation. In a statement, North Wales Police said: "We despair - we really do... Please, please, please stay home. The coronavirus is affecting every part of the UK, nowhere is immune to it.

"Now is not the time to come to the national park for a walk. The beautiful mountains will still be here and we will gladly welcome you all back once this is all over."

'To pick up a toy car'

Two men who had travelled from Derby were issued fines after police stopped them in Brecon from travelling to pick up a remote control car.

'To buy a bouncy castle'

Another couple were left deflated after police stopped them from completing a 100-mile round trip to Pembrokeshire to collect a bouncy castle they had bought on Facebook. Officers issued the couple with fines and explained that this was not considered essential travel.

Fishing, mountain climbing and enjoying the coast — all on one weekend

Police patrol the eerily empty Barry Island over Easter weekend

Four men from Cardiff travelled to Langland Bay, Swansea to go fishing. They admitted to officers they understood the restrictions but “wanted to get out after being stuck in all week”. All four were given fines and a 38-year-old was held on an outstanding arrest warrant.

Two men and two women from Cardiff travelled to Rhondda to climb a mountain, before getting lost and calling the police. All four were rescued before being given a fixed penalty.

A woman from Cardiff was fined after her 13-year-old son repeatedly breached restrictions.

A shoplifter in Cardiff falsely claimed to have tested positive for coronavirus to try and avoid being arrested.

A man drove from Port Talbot to Mumbles to enjoy the coastline. When stopped, he told officers “it was a nice day”, before being told to go home. Despite the warning, he went on to drive to another beach car park, where he was arrested and given a fixed penalty.

Find out about coronavirus cases in your area:

Having a street party — then getting annoyed at police for stopping it

A group of almost 30 people had a street party in Swansea then got annoyed at the police for "spoiling their fun".

A total of 23 adults and four children were enjoying a street party in Treboeth.

South Wales Police received reports of the gathering just after 5pm on April 11.

Officers arrived at the scene and reminded "a number of people" about the Government's guidance not to meet with others outside of your household during the coronavirus lockdown.

Going to Ireland to collect a dog

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police  were carrying out patrols during the early hours of Saturday, April 11, when they stopped multiple vehicles.

One car was stopped on the A477 with the driver claiming he was travelling to Ireland "to collect a dog". After being reported and turned around by officers he told him that he knew he was "chancing his luck".

Travelling from south Wales to Leeds and back to see an uncle

A driver who didn't have any valid car insurance was stopped by police after travelling from south Wales to Leeds and back to visit their uncle.

South Wales Police tweeted the following message on April 12: "A journey from south Wales to Leeds to see your uncle and then back again is NOT an essential journey! On this occasion it was a non-essential journey without any valid insurance. Vehicle seized and driver reported for relevant offences."

Travelling 125 miles to Welsh coast to windsurf

Two men from the West Midlands were fined after travelling 125 miles to north Wales to windsurf. North Wales Police said the men had travelled to Black Rock Sands in Porthmadog.

'Delivering food to a relative but not knowing their address'

Two men were also fined in Powys after claiming that they were on their way to deliver food to a vulnerable relative in North Wales. Police continued to ask the pair about where their relative lived but they didn't know the address.

Travelling from Bristol to Tenby to 'look at the beach'

Looking at a beach is not considered an essential journey

Day-trippers who drove from Bristol to Tenby to "look at the beach" were caught by police and reported for non-essential travel.

Pembrokeshire Roads Policing Unit officers routinely stopped a white Seat Leon at a petrol station in Pentlepoir near Saundersfoot.

Occupants of the car, which was registered and insured to the Manchester area, said they had "just finished work" and were going to Tenby to "look at the beach".