A Swadlincote-based councillor on holiday in Lanzarote has told how police are issuing fines of hundreds of euros for people leaving their place of residence for non-essential reasons.

Cllr Paul Dunn, a member of South Derbyshire District Council, is staying in a block of apartments in Los Mojones with his wife Les.

The retired Newhall couple, both aged 66, arrived on the Spanish island on March 8 and have been in near quarantine conditions since Saturday.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a state of emergency on Saturday that would last two weeks, after 1,500 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed in one day.

Yesterday, Spain reported 2,000 further Covid-19 cases and more than 100 more deaths – taking its totals to 7,753 infections and 288 fatalities What Swad Needs To Know

Cllr Dunn told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "We have been told we can only leave our room or complex to go to the supermarket, pharmacy or medical centre.

"I have been told people are being given fines of €500 if they are found leaving their place of residence for any other reason.

"We were out in a bar late on Saturday night and the Guardia came in and told us all to go back to wherever we were staying.

"It is pretty eerie here at the moment, the streets are virtually empty and anyone seen outside by the police is asked where they are going and why.

"The locals are allowed to go out if their place of work is open but all of the bars and restaurants are closed so most don't have any work to go to.

"We're lucky that we are going back tomorrow and that the quarantine didn't come in until the end of the holiday – we can't wait to get back now.

"Fortunately the garden bar at the block of apartments we are in is still open.

"We are told that only one shop is open at the airport and we have had a text from EasyJet to say our flight back is unaffected

"It is not a good situation to be in."

Cllr Dunn said that he and his wife may self-isolate when they return to the UK but have to make sure they are able to care for Mrs Dunn's mother who is in council-run respite care.

News broke at the weekend that councils may be allowed to reduce their social care responsibilities such as reducing the number of home-care visits.

EasyJet announced at the weekend that it would be flying as normal on Sunday and Monday to try and allow as many UK citizens as possible to return home.

However, between March 17 and March 29, only rescue flights will be operating.

The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office advised against all but essential travel to Spain which declared a state of emergency on Saturday, March 14.

This placed significant restrictions on movement.

The FCO says: "Transport services will be operating at reduced levels.

"Public gatherings are banned, most shops other than those selling food or other essential items such as pharmacies will be closed, many businesses and all schools and universities are closed, and all citizens have been instructed to remain at home except when going about a limited set of activities in particular to buy food or other essential items, to return home to their primary residence, to go to hospital or other health centres, to go to work (if unable to work from home), to carry out caring or similar duties or in case of real need.

"UK nationals currently in Spain should follow the advice of local authorities. Anybody planning to travel to Spain should consult their airline or tour operator."