PARK users are being ordered to stay away from play equipment and outdoor gyms to cut the risk of spreading coronavirus.

All park playgrounds were cordoned off in the beginning of the lockdown, almost four weeks ago, but some people are still defying the official restrictions, says Oxford City Council.

Councillor Louise Upton, cabinet member for a safer, healthy Oxford, said: “This equipment has been sealed off for a very good reason.

“Coronavirus can stay on hard surfaces for several days – it can be passed on by touching surfaces handled by others.

“Yet despite this we are finding seals have been broken on the gates and the prohibition signs on equipment taken down.”

Ms Upton said that by using the equipment for their daily exercise, people were putting themselves, their loved ones and others in danger.

The councillor added: “On top of that, residents are placing additional strain on park staff and police resources during a crisis when they all have much more important things to do.”

The local authority also urged parents to educate their children about the dangers and ensure that they are always supervised when they go out for daily exercise.

Ms Upton appealed: “It may be hard for children to resist going on play equipment when there is no one around, but the virus may well be there, left by another child who thought the same thing earlier in the day.”

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As well as play areas being closed, the ban includes multi-use games areas and skateparks.

Oxford City Council and Thames Valley Police will be working together to ensure that cordoned off areas in the parks will remain out of use until the lockdown is ended.

The official government advice states that people should stay at their own home and only go out for food, health reasons or essential work, should stay two metres away from others, and wash their hands as soon as possible.