A beautician who was caught treating a client despite lockdown has been handed a fine. 

All non-essential shops and services have to close as a result of the third national lockdown. 

But police officers in Southend found a beautician treating a client in a shed behind a Southend beauty parlour on Wednesday.

Both women, aged 54 and 52, were issued with fixed penalty notices.

The same day, our officers found two customers having tattoos in a tattoo parlour in the Epping Forest district.

The manager received a £1,000 fixed penalty notice and the staff member also received an fixed penalty notice.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "We appreciate that everyone wants to look their best but a national lockdown is not the time to get a facial or have a new tattoo."

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A 32-year-old Wickford man was also hit with a fixed penalty notice after inviting seven friends round to watch boxing on television.

The spokesman added: "We know this is a really challenging time but we really appreciate all the efforts of the vast majority of people across Essex who are continuing to do the right thing.

"It really is making a difference.

"We will continue to respond to clear and blatant breaches and, where they occur, work with our partners to resolve them.

"We want people to continue to report Covid-19 breaches.

"You can report them via our website by using our digital 101 service, where you can speak to one of our operators via Live Chat, any day between 7am and 11pm."