Police issued dozens of fines today after drivers sought alternative parking spaces in Richmond Park - on the grass.

Royal Parks said it was expecting car parks to fill up by 10am after three busy weekends over lockdown. "From recent experience we expect car parks to be full by around 10am on both days this weekend," the charity said. "Please leave your cars at home to avoid spending your valuable weekend time stuck in traffic."

Their prediction proved correct and it led to Royal Parks Police issuing 45 parking tickets in just the morning on Saturday, November 28.

Photos posted on social media by @alxwtsnwrk showed a row of cars left on the grass verge off Broomfield Hill.

Alex said two of the cars shown in the above photo were reversing out of the space "albeit right into the path of oncoming cyclists".

The below photo shows a silver car parked half on the grass and half on a stretch of path with four people on bicycles riding towards it.

Writing to the Royal Parks and parks police, Alex said: "Please make it clearer where cars can and can't drive or park and enforce the rules.

"Or, even better, stop them from driving anywhere but to the closest car park from the gate they entered."

Parks police shared the post and said it had slapped a number of motorists with tickets.

"Again, please don't park on the grass, we have issued over 45 parking tickets this morning alone."

In a message on Sunday morning, the force wrote: "Officers are out again this morning issuing parking tickets.

"Want to avoid a fine? Park in the car parks only and not on the grass."

The same issue occurred last weekend.

On Sunday, November 22 parks police posted images of an Audi, Volkswagen and 4x4 which had parked near trees on the grass in both Richmond and Bushy parks.

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