Police forces across Powys have today been on patrol to crack down on people heading out and about in the county.

Road policing teams have been using powers created this week to send home anybody who is out and about on a non-essential journey.

Fines of £60 can be issued against people for non-essential travel – a sum which can double on each subsequent offence.

Dyfed-Powys chief constable Mark Collins said: "We get 10 million visitors a year come to our force area, it's a fantastic place to visit and work.

"But I need to be clear, at the moment we are not open. So I would encourage you as members of the public to adhere to this advice, not to travel to Dyfed-Powys area. We have officers on patrol who will be stopping, and will be enforcing where necessary."

Despite the widespread messages about staying home during the crisis, police say they have continued to encounter people flouting the rules.

Yesterday Welshpool Police reported seeing groups of children congregating at Maesydre playing fields.

Llanidloes's neighbourhood policing team said that a high number of walkers using public footpaths could spread the virus on gates and benches – although it also said the town had been "eerily quiet" on Friday night, suggesting the message is getting through.

Further south in the county, the Brecon Beacons National Park is still seeing people attempting to visit. Brecon Roads Policing Unit said on Twitter that one family from Bristol had been stopped from visiting Pen y Fan.

And some parts of Dyfed-Powys Police warned that families had been turning up at supermarkets, against instructions to shop as individuals.

Chf Con Collins said that on Friday alone more than 200 vehicles were turned away from Pembrokeshire.

He added that caravans and campervans had been coming into the force area, with families from England among those turned away, "travelling hundreds of miles to get here".

"Please don't do it," he added. "You're putting our NHS front line at risk, you're putting my officers and staff at risk. We will be open for business in a few weeks' time, these beauty spots will still be here, and we will welcome you with open arms then.

"But as it stands now, please stay away."

The crackdown began as early as Wednesday, when officers in Newtown started checking cars coming in and out of the town.