Two Watford skateparks are closing during lockdown as coronavirus cases continue to remain high.

The skateparks in Oxhey Activity Park and Derby Road will be closed off to the public from today after Skateboard GB confirmed all indoor and outdoor sites must shut.

Playgrounds are allowed to stay open during England’s third national lockdown, but government rules had not made clear if skateparks would have to close.

Skateboard GB, the UK's official governing body for skateboarding, confirmed on Wednesday they must close during the period of the toughest measures.

It comes after families were pictured tightly packed together on Sunday by the skatepark in Oxhey Activity Park, with residents appearing to stand closer than two metres together.

Watford Observer:

People in Oxhey Activity Park on Sunday - Photo credit: Watford Observer Camera Club Member Robert Stapleton

Watford's infection rate has now exceeded 1,000 cases per 100,000 population, with the new and more infectious strain of coronavirus continuing to spread.

Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor said "it is the right thing to do" to close the skateparks and follow the national rules.

He is now urging people going to any park to “act responsibly” during lockdown, which came into force on Wednesday.

He said: “People need to think about their own behaviour, choose which park you are going to visit and what time you are going to go.

“People need to make their own choices to ensure they are keeping themselves and their families safe and also when they do visit a park, they make sure that they are keeping their distance from others, that they are washing their hands and following all of the rules to keep themselves safe.”

He added busier parks such as Cassiobury Park and Oxhey Activity Park are being targeted by Watford Borough Council to ensure there is no crowding in them.

Mr Taylor said park rangers are also patrolling Watford parks and have a direct link to the police if they need support.

Watford Observer:

Mayor Peter Taylor at Oxhey Activity Park when it opened (photo Simon Jacobs)

He said: “We are obviously targeting the parks which are the most busy to ensure people are keeping their distance and following rules.”

Speaking about Oxhey Activity Park, Mr Taylor said: “There is now marshals in Oxhey Activity Park every single day and the police are visiting regularly and there is lots of people in the park to ensure people are not congregating.

"There is enforcement action taking place to say you can’t stand in groups close together as that is a high risk thing to do.”

The leader of Watford Labour, Nigel Bell, welcomed the news that marshals will be patrolling the park.

He called for clarity that the marshals will actively encourage groups to stop gathering in the park and said he "welcomed" the response that there will be more patrols.