OFFICERS patrolling Southend gave some "stern" advice to youths using a skate park despite the police cordon in place.

PCSOs Westall and Jones visited a number of areas, including Chalkwell Park, where they gave the two youths some social distancing advice.

The officers also patrolled Leigh Library Gardens and asked two men to leave who were unsure of the current Covid 19 guidelines.

Essex Police Southend posted on its Facebook page: "In other areas, including Eastwood Park, the majority of people were respecting the social distancing guidelines. Thank you.

"Whilst out and about today, the officers also leafletted houses on a Leigh street after a burglary, attended an obstruction caused by a dumped car and did some enquiries about a hit and run incident.

"We are also very grateful to the young man who found some keys that had been lost in a park. We had been helping the owner of keys and her two very young children to find the keys.

"We were about to leave the park when the man approached us with the keys. Sometimes there are happy endings."