Covid UK: Cornwall police chief tells chef Gordon Ramsay and other stars not to ...

Officials today warned celebrities and second homeowners they 'can't hide' in Cornwall and Suffolk as police crack-down on rule-breakers in a sweeping anti-Covid clampdown. 

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez told celebrities and high-profile social media stars not to make 'unnecessary trips' to Devon and Cornwall during the third national lockdown.

Celebrities who have spent time in Cornwall during previous lockdowns include chef Gordon Ramsay, who was even reported to police for travelling between London and his £4million second home.

A spokesperson told MailOnline that Mr Ramsay been in London since December, but declined to comment on any forthcoming travel plans for security and privacy reasons. 

Cornwall, a formerly Tier 1 county, registered 320 cases per 100,000 people according to the latest official figures - sparking claims that the NHS in the country is at risk of collapsing.  

In seaside resort Southwold, Suffolk, authorities threatened 'self-entitled' second homeowners trying to escape the shutdown by fleeing to the coastal Beauty spot with draconian fines.

Liberal Democrat Cllr David Beavan claimed 'we know the people who are breaking the rules' and police are 'knocking on their doors', adding: 'You can't hide in a town like Southwold'.

Southwold, where more than half the properties are owned by outsiders, has attracted a host of stars and is a favourite of celebrities including Twiggy, Dame Judi Dench, David Tennant and Michael Palin.  

It comes as police forces across England vow to take a hard-line on lockdown rule-breakers, with officers fining people the first time they are caught not wearing masks or being outside without a 'reasonable excuse'.  

Yesterday officers arrested 28 protesters for flouting restrictions, fined four friends £800 for travelling in the same car to McDonald's and pulled over motorists to check where they were going.

In a statement, Ms Hernandez said: 'This new strain of Covid-19 is spreading much faster and we must do everything we can to protect our residents and the NHS.

'I would particularly like to appeal to celebrities and high profile social media stars.

'By not conducting unnecessary trips to the region you will be setting a fantastic example to the wider public and, in doing so, encouraging more people to stick to the rules.

'I would urge you to lead by example and together we will come through this.

'There will, of course, come a time when Devon and Cornwall can welcome back visitors with open arms, and while that time isn't now, I would urge you all to #ComeBackLater.' 

She added: 'We know Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are absolutely beautiful and it's totally understandable that people would want to spend time here - our thriving tourism industry is evidence of that.

'However, at a time when stopping the spread of this terrible virus is more important than ever, I must urge people not to make unnecessary journeys to the region.'

Rachel Wigglesworth, Cornwall's Director of Public Health, also issued a stark warning to the county's residents.

She said: 'This is a serious case for Cornwall, we've seen more than two thirds of the total case numbers for Cornwall just in the past two months.

'We've increased from a rate of 18 to over 300 per 100,000 - that is a rapid increase. It's a more rapid increase certainly than anywhere else in the South West but also nationally, so this is a serious situation for Cornwall.'

She also said the virus 'is very nearly out of control in Cornwall' and the message to stay at home 'is really simple'.

Despite registering no cases of coronavirus, the Isles of Scilly has also now moved from Tier 1 into the national shutdown. 

Cllr Julian German, leader of Cornwall Council, called for tougher restrictions before the third lockdown was announced on Monday. 

'This action should have been taken as soon as the surge in case numbers became evident,' he said.

'My hope now is that these steps will prove enough to make a real difference and reduce the spread of the virus.'

A Suffolk Police spokesman said: 'We will continue to engage with people proportionately, fairly and using common sense. 

'It is right for officers to be inquisitive about why individuals may be away from home.