A group attempting to travel to Switzerland for a ski holiday were stopped from boarding a Eurostar train at London St Pancras in breach of coronavirus restrictions.
Train manager Justin, who did not give his surname, posted on Twitter that French border police deployed at the station had turned the travellers away on Wednesday morning.
A photograph shows the group was carrying at least one large bag of winter sports equipment.
Justin wrote that a ski trip ‘does not count as essential travel’ and there are ‘very limited reasons for travel to France’.
He added: ‘I really fancy a trip with my family to eat chips in Brussels but there’s a global pandemic on right now.
‘If we all do our bit and are patient for this final push, then hopefully we can get back to doing all of those things we love.’
Last week, a Eurostar passenger trying to travel to a yoga class in Paris was also turned away from London St Pancras.
France only permits a limited group of people to arrive from the UK, such as transport workers, people delivering goods or those who normally live in France.
All international holidays have been banned for everyone in England, with only essential travel allowed.
If you do need to travel abroad, you must have a legally permitted reason, such as work.
Closer to home, eight friends were each fined £200 after travelling 175 miles down from Coventry to the idyllic Durdle Door in Dorset on Sunday.
‘I was gobsmacked at what they had done,’ a Lulworth Ranger said. ‘They were blatantly ignoring the rules.’
Government guidance states you should minimise the time you spend outside your home during the third national lockdown.
You are permitted to leave for childcare and education, exercise, medical appointments, caring responsibilities and any other special circumstances including your support bubble.
Brits have been advised to stay in ‘your local area’ for non-essential activities, meaning your ‘village, town or part of a city where you live’.
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