'What happened to stay at home?' - video shows traffic 'back to normal' on Sheffield bypass

While even busy roads have been eerily deserted during the coronavirus lockdown, Victoria Cooper says that is no longer the case on the Bochum Parkway through Norton.

She says traffic had decreased after restrictions were imposed but, as this video shows, the number of cars travelling along it has returned to pre-pandemic levels.

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Although essential travel is still allowed, for key workers and those picking up food and medicine, she believes the volume of traffic suggests many people are clearly flouting the rules.

“Last week this road was absolutely dead but now you can see the traffic has increased,” said the 57-year-old dog trainer.

“I don’t know if these are all key workers but this bypass is the same as it would be normally midweek. What happened to stay at home?”

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Ms Cooper said she recorded the footage while out walking her dog this morning, Thursday, April 9, when it took her 10 minutes to cross to reach Moss Valley Woodlands.

Anyone caught flouting the regulations can now be fined £60 or arrested.

South Yorkshire Police set up check points on roads across the region after the restrictions were imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

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The force said no fines were handed out initially as it wanted to work with communities and educate people.

But on Wednesday it announced that fines had been issued to 26 people caught breaching the rules in the space of 24 hours.