Andy Preston, who ran a hedge fund and a charity before he was elected as an Independent in Middlesbrough, previously said he was right to lock the gates in three major parks, saying the town had been officially found to be the most vulnerable to coronavirus in the country.

But since then, Mr Preston, who owns a grade-II listed mansion with extensive grounds near Northallerton, North Yorkshire, has announced the parks will be opened again from Friday on a trial basis.

The mayor said on Twitter that the time was right to make the change, due to it being VE Day and with the "apparent levelling of infection rates".

Stewart Park in Middlesbrough was one of the parks that was closed by the council.

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He said play areas would remain off limits, but the "beautiful scenery" was open.

Replying to a critic of the decision to reopen, Mr Preston tweeted: "I closed the parks about 6 weeks ago. Mainly due to safety fears. Obviously they have to reopen at some point.

"I think we can now open them relatively safely. So now is a good time to announce it What is your argument against that?"

Middlesbrough Labour MP Andy McDonald had earlier told the Guardian some of the town's parks could fit within the grounds of the mayor's mansion, adding: "He can enjoy that, but people living in small terraced houses, they can't get their lungs breathing in a pleasant environment."

Local government minister Simon Clarke, Tory MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, wrote to all councils urging them to keep parks open.

But when Mr Preston appeared on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Wednesday he insisted it was right to keep the three parks closed as Middlesbrough had been found to be "the most Covid-vulnerable place in the country".

Ahead of his later change of heart, Mr Preston had told the Today programme: "Our problems are bigger, our mortality rates will end up even higher due to a range of issues, and we need to take more drastic action to look after people, protect lives and also save jobs."

When asked about Mr McDonald's comment that the mayor's wealth and the size of his garden meant he did not understand the importance of access to open space, Mr Preston replied: "I have got to look at the facts and work with people and take tough decisions, whether they are popular or not, to protect people."

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Millionaire mayor who closed parks in his town announces U-turn for VE Day