PARTYGOERS were hit with £18,400 worth of Covid fines after police broke up a gathering of 23 people at a house in Haydon Wick.

Guests had travelled from as far afield as Lincolnshire and Gloucestershire to attend the party, which is strictly against the government’s lockdown rules.

Police were called to Primrose Close at 9.30pm and could hear loud music coming from inside the property – as well as a number of vehicles parked outside – when they arrived.

READ MORE: Illegal Haydon Wick birthday party branded "reckless and irresponsible"

They entered the property via the garden gate and found two men cooking food on a barbecue, with more food and alcohol laid out inside.

The homeowner told them it was his birthday before the guests were ordered to go home.

The 23 people, including the homeowner, were each issued with fixed penalty notices of £800 for attending a gathering of more than 15 people.

Chief Constable Kier Pritchard said: "It is astounding to me that people still believe it is acceptable to travel across the country to attend a birthday party.

"The recent news that the UK has now passed the terrible milestone of 100,000 Covid deaths is a tragic reminder of exactly what our country is dealing with right now, and I cannot fathom the thinking behind a decision to host or attend a house party during these unprecedented times.

"I have been clear that our policing response must continue to be robust, fair and consistent and this enforcement action is exactly what I would expect my officers to be doing with such a flagrant breach.

"Our NHS services, including our local hospitals here in Swindon and Wiltshire, remain under immense pressure and incidents like this are a slap in the face of those staff working tirelessly around the clock to care for the seriously ill and save lives."