POLICE across Avon and Somerset broke up more than a dozen illegal house parties and issued 47 fines at the weekend.

A total of 13 of the fixed penalty notices for breaching the Covid-19 between Friday and Sunday restrictions were for £800.

In Bristol, more than 50 people attended a party in Tyndalls Park Road, while there were around 30 at a house in Ashgrove Road.

Several people fled the former address when officers arrived, but FPNs of £800 were still issued to 13 people, while six others were given formal warnings. Music equipment was also seized from the address.

Two people at the Ashgrove Road party were fined while words of advice were given to the others in attendance.

When officers arrived at a house party in Brighton Road, Bristol, several of the occupants jumped over the garden fence in a bid to escape and others hid inside the property. All people were eventually accounted for and £200 fines were given to 10 people.

There were also six people found having a party at an address in Hotwell Road, four at a house on Shrubbery Avenue, Weston-super-Mare, and four at a property on Coldharbour Lane, Stoke Gifford, were also issued with COVID-19 fines.

FPNs were also handed to eight people attending gatherings at properties on Apsley Road and Denmark Street, in Bristol; Elmtree Way, in Kingswood; and Walsh Close, in Weston-super-Mare.

Inspector Ruth Gawler said: “Millions of people across the country are diligently following the rules and making huge sacrifices to limit the spread of coronavirus.

“Yet there is clearly a selfish minority who seem to think the rules don’t apply to them and they can go about their lives as normal.

“Their actions are not only putting themselves at risk, but risking the lives of their families, friends, and their whole community.

“The fact people tried to flee from officers is evidence they know exactly what they are doing is wrong.

“We will not stand by and let these irresponsible few break the rules in this egregious manner and we will give them severe penalties.”

On Friday the minimum penalty which can be given to anyone attending a party or gathering of more than 15 people quadrupled, with fines of up to £6,400 for repeat offenders.

Those attending gatherings of 15 people or fewer are still subject to a fixed penalty notice of £200 which doubles with each repeated offence.