A major south London park has reopened after closing on Sunday as thousands of people were accused of ignoring "stay-at-home" guidance.

Brockwell Park in Lambeth locked its gates after 3,000 people visited on Saturday, "many of them sunbathing or in large groups".

But today it is open as usual, as the Government urged councils not to close parks unless it is "impossible" to maintain social distancing in them.

Housing and Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said today that he had called local leaders to warn them to be "very judicious" in locking open spaces.

But there are concerns that public confidence could be lost if those in power with gardens and ample living space tell those who live in crowded conditions they cannot go to the park or exercise outdoors.

Mr Jenrick agreed he has a "lot of sympathy" with those concerns as he said he had spoken to "a number" of councils who had closed parks over the weekend.

"This is their decision, but I have asked them to be very judicious in taking that step and only to do that where they feel it is impossible to maintain social distancing rules within their parks or open spaces," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"I think that is what motivated them over the weekend."

Sunny, warmer-than-average conditions are set to continue this week, with a peak of around 24C (75.2F) forecast for Wednesday and Thursday in southern England, the Met Office said.

Lambeth Council called the rulebreakers "unacceptable" and apologised for the initial closure, adding: "A minority of people have not followed the guidance - regrettably we have to act."

There were similar scenes on Primrose Hill in Camden, where police moved on more than 100 people who were picnicking or had met with friends.

Rulebreakers were also spotted on the south coast, and two people will now face the courts after a having a barbecue on a beach in Hove.

One family were found to have travelled all the way from Bromley for a day by the seaside.