A SHOCKING image of group of youths brazenly flouting coronavirus lockdown rules in Bradford has emerged.

A Telegraph & Argus reader snapped the picture in Great Horton, branding their actions “disgusting” as they blasted music around the streets.

Their actions fly in the face of tough new measures introduced earlier this week - people who live in the same house may go out together but should keep their distance from others, while groups of more than two people from different households meeting up is dangerous and not allowed.

Councillor Tariq Hussain (Lab, Great Horton) urged people to take responsibility.

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He said: “The situation is quite bleak at the moment.

"Groups are just asking for serious trouble because this disease is very, very serious and is spreading very, very fast.

"People need to take ownership, parents need to take ownership of their children. This virus is escalating rapidly, a lot of families have three, four generations living with them.

"This does not help - anyone who is vulnerable, has underlying conditions, they are going to find it very very difficult.”

He added: “Please, please stop being silly and take ownership because this is serious.

“It’s spreading throughout the world at a rapid pace. Please, please look at the situation, its very, very dangerous - don’t your risk yours, your family’s, your parents’ lives.”

People who continue to flout coronavirus lockdown rules will be breaking the law and can be arrested as part of new enforcement powers announced by the Home Office. Officers can also tell them to go home, leave or disperse an area and ensure parents are taking necessary steps to stop their children breaking the law.

Those who refuse to comply could be issued with a fixed penalty notice of £60, which will be lowered to £30 if paid within 14 days. Second-time offenders could be issued a fixed penalty notice of £120, doubling on each further repeat offence. Those who do not pay the penalty can be taken to court, with magistrates able to impose unlimited fines.

West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable John Robins said: “I am sure most people understand the need for restrictions, but where people persist in not complying, we will use the powers at our disposal. Where people repeatedly fail to abide by the restrictions and fail to contribute to slowing the spread of coronavirus, I have asked my officers to be robust in applying these new powers.

“Our communities can be reassured that we are committed to doing everything we can to ensure their safety."