A LARGE number of people are breaking lockdown rules to visit Snowdonia, police have warned.

North Wales Police said it is carrying out high visibility patrols in tourist hotspot areas including the national park which has had an increase in visitors over the festive period.

The Welsh Government's Tier 4 restrictions say that travelling is prohibited without a reasonable excuse such as essential shopping or work.

Police tweeted: "We are conducting high vis patrols in our tourist hot spot areas and are aware that a large number of people are visiting places such as #Snowdonia.

"This is not essential travel."

It comes after the Snowdonia National Park Authority urged people not to travel to the area in breach of lockdown rules.

“Although the snow does look pretty on the mountains the current Welsh Government guidelines say people should only travel if it's essential," the authority tweeted.

“No journeys of any significant distance should be taken, for example, just in order to exercise in the countryside or at beauty spots.”