A SOMERSET man who travelled to Worcester and was filmed diving into a flooded river has been fined for breaching Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

The 36-year-old was videoed diving into the River Severn in Worcester in his boxer shorts, before swimming towards Diglis and clambering out, leading to a police appeal to trace him.

West Mercia Police said the swimming was not "permitted exercise" during the pandemic, especially as the man had travelled from Somerset.

After emergency services rushed to the scene last Thursday and rescue boats combed the river looking for him, the man handed himself in to the police.

He was formally interviewed in respect of offences for a Coronavirus Legislation Breach and a Breach of Public Order Legislation, "relating to his actions of diving from the main river bridge of the River Severn into deep and dangerous flood water".

Following this interview, the man was issued with Fixed Penalty tickets under both legislations.

Inspector Andrew Holliday, of West Mercia Police, said: “As a service we are acutely aware of the alarm and distress that the actions of this man have caused the local community.

"In part this is due to a number of incidents that have happened previously, both in this area and connected to the river.

“We cannot state strongly enough that the river is a very dangerous place, at any time of the year, but especially at times when the river is so high.

"No-one should enter the water for any reason to swim.

“The Covid regulations clearly state that exercise is one of the permitted reasons for being away from your residence, however travelling from Somerset to Worcestershire for a stunt like this - which was filmed by a friend of the man - is not a permitted form of exercise, nor a reasonable reason to travel.

"It just will not be tolerated while we as a community are in lockdown together.”