Councillors have thrown their support behind the countrywide lockdown, after local communities saw an unprecedented influx of visitors over the last couple of weeks.

In recent times, particularly on the weekend of 21 March, an unprecedented number of visitors descended on popular tourist destinations in Wales, despite government advice encouraging the public to practice social distancing.

Many local residents, councillors and authorities called on the government to place harsher restrictions on travelling, to protect rural communities.

The lockdown, which was announced on 23 March, was therefore welcomed by local councillors.

Aberaeron councillor Elizabeth Evans said: “There is no doubt that the calls for essential travel only has made a dramatic difference to the levels of visitors we saw in Aberaeron only two weekends ago. That has now ended.

“Holiday-home owners have been sensible and have stayed away for their own protection, and ours, with a growing understanding that our local health service is only funded for a static population.

“In a town where tourism is the primary economy, to ask people not to visit us is unfamiliar territory to us all, and we all look forward to welcoming visitors here again, but only when it’s safe to do so.

“Our community volunteer response has been overwhelming and Aberaeron Town Council is full of gratitude for everything they are doing in the hope that we can protect our most vulnerable and keep safe ourselves.

“The streets are empty and all shops not selling food are closed. It feels like someone just turned off the light.”

Aberystwyth councillor Ceredig Davies said: “Would we go out if there was a mass murderer out and about? No, but this killer is far more dangerous and still people don’t comprehend the danger.

“The scenes of crowds of people massing at our beauty spots was an indication that to many people were of the mindset ‘it will not happen to me’.

“Well it could happen to them and their actions could well have resulted in the swamping of our fragile health service here in mid Wales.

“I fully support the decision to get people to stay at home. Stay at home people, there is a reason they are building mega hospitals in London.”

Machynlleth Cllr Michael Williams also commented: “I fully support the lockdown. We must all pull together to beat Covid-19.

“The wellbeing of our nation and the UK needs us to respect current regulations. Let us ensure we come out on the right side to ensure strong, robust and caring communities.

“I was dismayed to see, on TV, so many people packed together and seemingly taking little or scant regard of social distancing regulations.

"This was also evident in other parts of the UK.”