PICTURES: Rotherham on lockdown

Stricter measures were announced last night by the Prime Minster as the Government's response to the coronavirus was heightened.

Following a weekend which saw crowds flocking to seaside destinations and outdoor spaces - ignoring advice to social distance - Boris Johnson has now ordered people to stay at home.

Birds were the only sound filling Clifton Park this morning, as swings, slides and sandpits stood untouched.

Our photographer Kerrie Beddows captured the scenes and said it was “eerily quiet” in the beauty spot on the sunny spring day.

The usually packed-out Parkgate Shopping was also completely empty.

Chief photographer Dave Poucher captured a quiet All Saints' Square. It is usually a hive of activity on a market day but shoppers were few and far between, the only queue to be seen at Natwest bank, which was operating a one-in, one-out system.

Dave said people were "doing what they had to do and then out as quickly as possible".

He added: "There was a good police presence too, on foot and in patrol cars. Presumably they were keeping an eye on things and making sure people are in and out as quickly as possible."

For the full gallery click here https://zenfolio.page.link/yVhjg