MAGISTRATES have fined several people from Bolton hundreds of pounds after they attended gatherings in breach of coronavirus rules.

At Manchester Magistrates' Court the five people from Bolton were among a slew of offenders from throughout Greater Manchester convicted of ignoring the rules last September and October.

Three of the people who attended gatherings in the Bolton did not turn up for their hearings and were convicted in their absence.

In court Aaron Davidson, aged 31, of Darley Street, Farnworth, admitted participating in an indoor gathering on September 12 and was fined £430 plus £128 in costs and charges.

Allan Adamson, aged 33, of New Lane, Bolton, was fined £120 plus £119 in costs and charges after pleading guilty participating in an indoor gathering at his home on September 1.

The cases against Michael Barlow, aged 33, of Sofa Street, Bolton, who participated in a gathering on October 7 in Bolton, Ali Isaak, aged 20, of Mere Walk, Bolton, who was at a household gathering on October 2 and Gail Hopwood, aged 38, of Hawthorne Road, Bolton, who was at a private gathering on October 7, were all proved was proved in their absence.

Each was fined £660 plus £151 in costs and charges.

Supt Andrew Sidebotham, from Greater Manchester Police said: "The vast majority of people in Greater Manchester are continuing to do the right thing by following the COVID-19 regulations that have been put in place by the Government to protect everyone from the virus.

"There are however, an obdurate minority who continue to flout the regulations and organise large gatherings. This is not only putting the lives of those in attendance at risk, but also those of their family members who they are going home to."