Police have issued a £10,000 coronavirus fine to the organiser of a remembrance service which was attended by more than 100 people.

Hertfordshire Constabulary says it was alerted to large numbers of people at Hitchin Yeshiva school in north Hertfordshire on the evening of Saturday, February 20.

On arrival, officers found a large group of people had gathered for a service of remembrance event.

Under coronavirus laws, a maximum of six people are allowed to attend a wake or celebration of life event. Only 30 people are permitted to attend a funeral service.

Officers dispersed the group and as around 150 people had attended the address during Saturday, police issued a £10,000 fixed penalty notice.

Days after this a seperate funeral had taken place in North Watford - there had been a heavy police presence on Tuesday for the service of a person within the traveller community who passed away.

Hertfordshire Constabulary confirmed the service in the town "passed without incident".

Read more - Funeral service 'passes without incident' after major police operation

Speaking about the remembrance service in Hitchin, North Herts Safer Neighbourhood Chief Inspector Jon Roche said: “We sympathise with anyone who is grieving the loss of a relative at this time and understand that it is really difficult not being able to mourn in the way you normally would, but we all have to remember that the rules are in place for a reason and the vast majority of people are doing the right thing.

“The lockdown rules are clear and we all have a moral duty to play our part and help save lives. Breaching the regulations sets us all back and is the wrong thing to do when so many others have made sacrifices. The £10,000 fine should act as a real deterrent – we will act and fine those who are blatantly flouting the law.”