Police have backed a hockey club accused of breaching Covid-19 rules by holding a youth training session.

Concerned onlookers watched as "streams of cars" entered the Ashford Hockey Club grounds in Ball Lane.

When one went to get a closer look, they counted 15 vehicles in the car park as well as a number of people gathered at the clubhouse and on the pitch at about 10am last Thursday.

The nearby resident, who had been taking a morning walk at the time, confirmed the event had been reported to the police.

"It just beggars belief," the 46-year-old said.

"Whether or not an event is in-keeping with the letter of the law, being a community organisation means you also have a duty to comply with the spirit of the law.

"I have friends who are staff at the William Harvey Hospital, and they describe their colleagues as being broken by the pandemic.

"When children are injured playing hockey, parents have no hesitation in taking them to the hospital, even at a time of crisis like this.

"At a time when everyone should be doing their public duty, this organisation clearly believes it has no need to be publicly spirited.

"They've taken a leaf out of Dominic Cummings' book.

"Families have made sacrifices over Christmas - I've not been able to see my relatives - but we've all chosen not to do it out of concern for public health."

Under Tier 4 restrictions, organised outdoor sport for under 18s and disabled people is still allowed.

In response to the allegations, Ashford Hockey Club chairman Paul Dawson said: "The police came to check out the AHC junior camp taking place last week.

"All Covid rules and regulations were in order and they were happy with the structure and organisation of the hockey camp."

This statement was supported by the police, who said: "We were called to a report of a possible breach of government Covid-19 rules in Ball Lane at 9.50am on Thursday, December 31.

"Officers attended and engaged with those present. No breach of the rules was identified."

Last month, police attended the area around the club three times in a week after reports of drug use.

At about 7pm on December 10, a man aged 21 was given a drugs warning after he was searched and officers found a small quantity of cannabis.

On December 13, a 19-year-old Ashford man was given a cannabis warning after he was stopped and searched by officers.

Another 19-year-old was stopped by officers on The Ridge, Kennington, at about 8.30pm the previous day.

Following the search of a vehicle and the discovery of a quantity of cannabis, the man was issued with a £90 fine.

Regarding the incidents, a police spokeswoman confirmed: "Officers from the community policing team have been carrying out extra patrols in Kennington following concern from a resident about drug misuse in the area of Ball Lane."

In June, an appeal lodged by the hockey club over controversial plans to build nine houses on its land proved successful.

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