Police officers rescue lost lamb found wandering the Yorkshire Dales

But far from being a member of the public flouting social distancing guidelines, the patrol officers instead found themselves dealing with a lost lamb.

The creature was found ambling in the countryside near to Thwaite, North Yorkshire Police said.

After being picked up and placed in the back seat of a police car, officers took him home to his owner.

Posting the sweet picture on the force's Facebook page, police said: "This little chap was found wandering by one of our officers last weekend and returned to mum at Thwaite in the Yorkshire Dales."

It comes as residents in North Yorkshire's popular tourist destinations reported almost-deserted footpaths and beaches over the Easter Bank Holiday, as countless warnings to stay at home despite the lure of pleasant weather appear to have sunk in.

Pictures from Good Friday and Easter Saturday showed nearly-empty seafronts along Yorkshire's coastline, with the exception of local residents on their daily exercise allowance.