Road near Malham in the Yorkshire Dales closed to prevent overcrowding

Gordale Lane in Malham has been temporarily closed to vehicles following issues with overcrowding and inconsiderate parking during the lockdown.

The area has been one of the most congested in the National Park, with many visitors heading to Malham Cove and Gordale Scar to have picnics and barbecues.

There has been a police presence in the area and officers have reported incidents of anti-social and disrespectful behaviour at the Cove.

The closure is now in place until at least June 20.

According to North Yorkshire County Council, the designation has been made 'because of potential danger to the public due to the difficulty of social distancing'.

Police can fine drivers who remove the barriers to access the road.

Alternative routes have been signposted.

During the full lockdown in March and April, police fined visitors who had travelled to Malham from Leeds, Bradford and even Oldham.

An unnamed officer on patrol in Malham in late April drew attention to the conduct of lockdown-breaking day-trippers

A gang of suspected drug dealers were also caught in the area after they fled their car at a police roadblock.

The police officer encountered visitors from Dewsbury, Barnsley, Accrington, Bradford and even Kent - and described the Cove as being 'like a nightclub'.

Several of those spoken to gave excuses including that they did not believe in the existence of coronavirus and that the BBC had 'spread lies' about the disease.

"When I politely engaged with folk about going back to where they came from, their sense of entitlement kicked in, and I endured more abuse than I ever have dealing with drunken idiots outside nightclubs. Social distancing does not come into it when you are a cop, and folks want to get in your face to give you the reasons why they are entitled to unnecessary travel with their friends from different households to exercise by carrying shopping bags full of food to beautiful locations because they are 'feeling ill' and 'want some fresh air'.

"One group were spitting on the ground in front of me, one bloke was screaming in my face in front of his children after he had abused a farmer who had challenged him about his dog chasing sheep, and others were climbing over drystone walls to avoid footpaths.

"I dispersed a party on Malham Cove who had also been abusing locals, having a barbecue on parched ground. There are face masks littering the Cove road - a biohazard which I am not prepared to pick up.

"The excuses were endless, including 'the BBC are spreading lies', 'we don't believe in the virus' and even 'human rights'.

"I have never wanted rain so much in my life!"

North Yorkshire Police later confirmed how many fines were issued in Malham over the weekend of April 27.

Seventeen fixed penalty notices were handed out in the village on the Saturday, with 13 issued in just one hour. A total of 31 fines were given out on Saturday across the force area, and a further 30 on the Sunday.

Once restrictions were eased and visits to the countryside were permitted, Malham became a honeypot destination and police described 'fraying tempers' among tourists who could not find anywhere to park.