A dozen people have been fined for breaking Tier 4 Covid-19 restrictions after playing dominoes in a restaurant.

Metropolitan Police officers found the group hiding in a dark room when they entered the building in Whitechapel, east London.

A video released by the Met shows the restaurant owner saying: “They’re playing dominoes.”

Police said he first tried to stall officers before claiming the only people inside were workers.

The dozen people who had gathered to play games were all handed fixed penalty notices, while Tower Hamlets Council has been asked to consider issuing a fine to the owner of the restaurant.

Chief Inspector Pete Shaw said: “The rules under Tier 4 are in place to keep all of us safe, and they do not exempt people from gathering to play games together in basements.

“The fact that these people hid from officers clearly shows they knew they were breaching the rules and have now been fined for their actions.”