Homebase reopens and DIY-ers flock to B&Q

Britons have been pushing the rules of lockdown today as they flock to parks, beaches and DIY stores across the country. Homebase in Harrogate opened for the first time in more than a month this morning, and saw a steady stream of DIY enthusiasts Customers queue outside the B&Q Warehouse, which has reopened after more than a month's closure, in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire this morning Crowds of travellers were ordered away by police today as they descended on Roath Park in Cardiff with their horses DIY Saturday: There was a huge queue outside B&Q in Bristol this morning as people get set to return to work, and carry out home and garden improvements this weekend A spell of sunshine this morning saw people flock to the seafront in Bournemouth, Dorset Members of the public were out exercising in the warm weather in Regents Park, London this morning A group of five teenagers gathered by Bournemouth Pier this morning before a council worker arrived to tell the group to move on - but onlookers claim they ignore him and went for a paddle instead Cyclists and walkers were out enjoying the sunshine in Battersea Park, London this afternoon Traffic builds up on the A406 North Circular at Wembley, north London shortly before 9am this morning On another day in the fight against coronavirus, as Britain's death tally edges closer to 20,000: Britain has announced a further 813 coronavirus victims today, taking the total number of fatalities in the UK to 20,319; Key workers have spoken of their frustration after places for a coronavirus test ran out within just an hour of the site opening today; The World Health Organization said there was currently 'no evidence' that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second coronavirus infection; Boris Johnson is preparing to return to Downing Street on Monday; Chancellor Rishi Sunak is drawing up measures to enable businesses to reopen in a 'safe and practical way'; Councils agreed to reopen 340 parks and green spaces following an intervention by Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick; Care home bosses have blamed the sector's soaring death toll on government guidance telling hospitals to discharge elderly residents to free up beds; The NHS is launching a new campaign to make sure people seek urgent care during a medical emergency after visits to A&E dropped by almost 50 per cent this month; Priti Patel will read the riot act to the rule-breakers ignoring the coronavirus lockdown after crowds poured into public places; Labour is criticising the inclusion of Dominic Cummings in a secret group advising the Government on the coronavirus crisis amid concerns political appointees are breathing down the necks of scientists; Low cost airline Wizz Air said it would restart some flights from London's Luton Airport on May 1 Boris Johnson 'will return to work on Monday' as a part-time PM - but allies warn he is still suffering 'debilitating' effects of coronavirus Boris Johnson speaking from 10 Downing Street praising NHS staff, after he was discharged from hospital Boris Johnson is expected to return to Downing Street on Monday to resume work part-time. People could be seen strolling along Bournemouth beach this afternoon as temperatures climbed to 14C Cyclists, runners and walkers were out in force in Greenwich Park in south-east London this morning Wardens were monitoring the situation in Victoria Park in London this morning, which was busy as people got outdoors With Prime Minister Boris Johnson expected to return to Downing Street next week after recuperating from the virus, Mr Hammond, said he hoped it would mark a 'clear step change' in the Government's response to the crisis People line up in their cars at a drive through testing centre in the car park of Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey today Cars queuing for the COVID 19 drive-in testing centre in Brighton & Hove Albion's American Express Community Stadium Labour fury at Dominic Cummings' role in secretive SAGE group Labour is criticising the inclusion of Boris Johnson's chief adviser Dominic Cummings in the secret group advising the Government on the coronavirus crisis amid concerns political appointees are breathing down the necks of scientists. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been looking at a way to start allowing non-essential businesses to reopen in a 'safe and practical way', keeping coronavirus out of shared office spaces Priti Patel to read Britain the riot act: Home Secretary will use today's press conference to warn 'selfish rule-breakers' to stop flouting coronavirus rules as more people venture out of lockdown SIR PETER FAHY: POLICE WILL BE NERVOUS ABOUT RELAXATION OF SOCIAL DISTANCING Police will be 'very nervous' about the relaxation of social distancing measures and how it can be monitored, a former chief constable has said. Labour's Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth has demanded that Dominic Cummings and Ben Warner should not be sitting on SAGE Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty says he and Sir Patrick Vallance think membership of secretive Sage committee of government's science advisers SHOULD be made public England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty backed naming the experts who are advising ministers on coronavirus - but said they have been told they cannot be identified on security grounbds.