OFFICERS cancelled two fixed penalty notices after a pair travelled from Lancashire to Cumbria for a walk.

Cumbria Police initially fined an 18-year-old and a 20-year-old who travelled from Lancashire to the Lakes for gathering in a group of two or more outdoors.

The fines, which were issued when the county was under Tier 3 regulations, were then rescinded as there is an exemption in Tier 3 for people exercising in groups of up to six people.

A spokesman for Cumbria Police said 'officers do occasionally make errors' due to the guidance changing numerous times throughout the pandemic.

A spokesman said: "The Constabulary has not issued fines for people travelling from Tier 3 as this is not against the regulations.

"The incident involved an 18-year-old and a 20-year-old who received fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for breaching Tier 3 regulations by gathering in a group of two or more outdoors.

"However, upon review, the FPNs should not have been issued as there is an exemption in Tier 3 regulations for people exercising in groups of up to six people and for people meeting in groups of up to six in parks or countryside accessible to the public.

"As such, officers have contacted both and the FPNs have been rescinded.

"The guidance has changed numerous times over the course of the pandemic and, whilst these changes are communicated, officers do occasionally make errors.

"For this reason, all FPNs are reviewed. In this instance, the review has resulted in the FPNs being cancelled."