Rutlanders are urged only to exercise in their town and village.

The guidance comes in a clarification Rutland County Council issued today (Mon) on what it means to exercise 'locally' during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The latest national lockdown restrictions in England mean that people can only leave home for a small number of specific reasons and should minimise time spent outside.

In accordance with national guidance, you can exercise in a public outdoor place:

By yourself

With the people you live with

With your support bubble (if you are legally permitted to form one)

In a childcare bubble where providing childcare

With one person from another household, if you live alone

Exercise includes but is not limited to running, cycling and walking. Personal training can continue if participants are from the same household or support bubble.

Current restrictions allow you to leave home for exercise once each day but discourage you from traveling outside your local area. However, Rutland's small size has led a number of people to question what is meant by this.

Mike Sandys, Director for Public Health at Rutland County Council, said: "The government's latest COVID restrictions permit outdoor exercise but also say you should avoid travelling outside of your village, town or the part of a city where you live. In a small place like Rutland, it's easy to consider the entire county as one 'local area'.

"However, we feel this goes against the spirit of the government's guidance, as it was intended, and that travelling between different parts of the county for exercise risks spreading the virus.

"To try and keep the infection rate down in Rutland, we urge everyone to start and finish their daily exercise in the town or village where they live, if at all possible.

"Making a point of getting in the car and travelling to another area to undertake exercise should really be reserved for people who have no outdoor open space where they live.

"Starting and finishing your daily exercise at your front door will help to avoid crowds at popular parks and open spaces and could make all the difference in helping us to bring the virus under control, locally."

For full details of the latest national COVID restrictions, please visit: www.gov.uk/coronavirus.