'Lots of very selfish people': Edinburgh reacts to crowds gathering at Portobello Beach

Sun-worshippers were pictured flocking to Portobello Beach yesterday while Scotland's lockdown remains in force - and it has sparked debate among locals.

Pictures showed people sitting and sunbathing and in the sea, although the majority appeared to be adhering to social distancing guidelines.

The Scottish Government's current guidance remains to only leave home for reasons like buying food, accessing medical care, exercising close to home or carrying out 'essential' work which can not be done from home.

When outdoors, people should maintain a physical distance of two metres from people of other households.

Two police officers speak to a cyclist at Portobello Beach.

Police officers were also pictured patrolling the beach to ensure people were adhering to the lockdown guidance.

The article, posted yesterday on the Evening News, provoked a strong reaction from readers across Edinburgh.

Joanne Price commented: "Must be nice to sit on beach while some of us are going to work to care for Covid patients"

A couple are pictured soaking up the sun at Portobello Beach.

Veronica MacMillan wrote: "Lots of very selfish people on the prom today - and no doubt will have contributed to more people becoming infected."

Gary McKenzie opined: "If you’ve sat on a beach or in a park or queued for a coffee and you catch the virus, it’s pretty much your own fault. The intelligent people are still observing the lockdown!"

Daniel Farquhar said: "Good on the police, enforce the lock down! Get the batons out if necessary if people don’t move on."

Patricia Anderson said: "It must be pretty heartbreaking for the frontline workers seeing people ignoring the advice. They are the ones that deserve a day at the beach - but they can't have it because of people making the wrong choices."

However, while most readers were critical of the gatherings, others offered a different view.

Mandy Milne commented: "We were put in lockdown so as to protect the NHS from being over run. We have achieved this... it is now time to venture out again, and yes, there will be a spike as that's expected but the whole point was to protect the NHS."

"Stephanie Sutherland wrote: "Nicola Sturgeon did say you can drive to locations and stay out as long as you want, so what do people expect on a roasting hot day - particularly families who live in high flats, etc."

Lisa Hamlett said: "We were there, went for a walk along the prom, and yes, the kids went in the sea for five mins. Most families were doing the same and everyone was keeping their distance. A fuss over nothing."

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