Councils have been praised for reopening around 340 parks and green spaces in the past week.

Councils were warned by the Government last week that parks should remain open throughout the coronavirus crisis to protect the wellbeing of the nation.

Communities secretary, Robert Jenrick, said councils had listened to the call and reopened hundreds of parks across the country.

'I’m grateful for the work of councils who have ensured, ahead of this weekend, that most parks across England are now open and cemeteries and graveyards in their area are also open for visitors,' he said.

'We’ll continue to work closely with them to try to get the remaining parks open soon, wherever possible.'

Research by the National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces found that 90% of Friends of Parks groups have reported that all parks in their area remain open.

Cllr James Jamieson, chairman of the Local Government Association, said: 'Councils know that visiting a park can have a positive impact on physical and mental wellbeing during this difficult time.

'They have worked hard to try and keep services running during this crisis, including keeping access to green spaces and cemeteries open for their residents.'