Can I go fishing during the second lockdown?

Boris Johnson set out his "road map" for lifting the coronavirus lockdown on Sunday May 10, which included allowing the public to take part in some sports but will fishing still by allowed during the second lockdown from Thursday?

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Can I still go fishing now?

The Government is yet to confirm whether fishing will be allowed once the nation goes into a second lockdown on Thursday.

Fishing had previously been classed as non-essential activity as people were only able to take one form of exercise a day - with the sport considered "not a very physical activity" by a Government spokesperson.

Yet, Boris Johnson revealed on May 10 that people will be allowed to go fishing from Wednesday, May 13, as part of slightly relaxing the lockdown measures.

The Prime Minister said: "We want to encourage people to take more and even unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise."

Included in this is that people will be able to go fishing, along with visit golf courses and play tennis.

This is due to the natural social distancing these sports already entail, as long as only those living in the same household are in close proximity.

You can meet one person from outside of your household at a distance of two metres.

Angling Trust had been pushing for it to be among the first to be lifted under the current lockdown, previously submitting reports to Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove.

Upon hearing Mr Johnson's statement in May, Angling Trust CEO Jamie Cook said: "I couldn't be more pleased to see the hard work Angling Trust and our supporters delivering such an outstanding result for everyone who loves to go fishing.

"We have demonstrated to the satisfaction of government that angling can be permitted as a safe, healthy, beneficial outdoor activity and why it can take its rightful position at the front of the queue as restrictions are relaxed."

When did fishing lakes reopen?

Fishing lakes reopened on Wednesday, May 13, in line with the Government's new rules.

Many areas were already open due to being parks or places for people to get general exercise.

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Can I still be fined for being outside?

Although Mr Johnson announced that unlimited exercise is encouraged - including fishing - you can still be slapped with a fine if you are gathering within two metres of someone not from your household.

This includes mass gatherings, as well as social distancing measures with one person outside your household.

Police have powers to serve £100 fines if people ignore the government's lockdown orders - and up to £3,200 for multiple offenders.