A HALESOWEN councillor who has received numerous reports of social distancing being flouted at a local park - is warning lives could be lost.

Councillor Joe Roberts has received a string of reports from residents concerned that people at Hurst Green park are ignoring social distancing rules designed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

He said for the last two weekends he has had complaints about youngsters playing football on a pitch there as well as people having ripped off the tape cordoning off the gym equipment and then using it for workouts.

Cllr Roberts said police are regularly patrolling parks across Halesowen including Hurst Green Park, off Moat Drive.

Police were called to Leasowes Park in Halesowen at the weekend and had to disperse groups of people congregating on the car park and near play equipment and Dudley Council has announced today (Wednesday) that it has been forced to close Stevens Park in Quarry Bank due to "mindless" people grouping together.

Councillor Roberts who is co-ordinating the Dudley Council for Voluntary Services response to the coronavirus crisis across Halesowen, pleaded for people to adhere to the rules or risk spreading the virus and costing lives.

The 21-year-old said: "I was told youngsters were using the football area of the park.

"I have received multiple reports from different residents over the last two weekends.

"Also of people having ripped off the tape they had put up to stop people using the outdoor gym, and then going on the equipment.

"We don't want our public open spaces like parks to be closed and providing people are social distancing from people outside their household they are safe places to be.

"But the advice is there for a reason and when people don't follow the rules people will die and that's what the government and NHS are trying to avoid."

The rule is that people must keep two metres apart if they are not from the same household.