THE number of residents in Cheshire East and West travelling to national parks has risen by more than 50 per cent compared to before the first lockdown, new figures reveal.

Reports from Google show how people's movements across the regions have changed since the coronavirus pandemic – revealing how less people travel to a workplace or visit shopping centres.

Google's Community Mobility Reports aim to provide insights into what has changed in response to policies aimed at combating Covid-19.

The reports chart movement trends over time across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations and workplaces.

In Cheshire East, the number of people travelling to places of retail and recreation – cafes, restaurants, shopping centres, theme parks, museum libraries and cinemas – is down seven per cent since before the first lockdown/

In Cheshire West and Chester, it is down five per cent.

Meanwhile seven per cent more people in Cheshire East, and two per cent more in Cheshire West, travel to supermarkets and pharmacies.

The highest figure related to the amount of people travelling to national parks, beaches, public gardens and dog parks.

This figure is up 65 per cent in Cheshire East and 55 per cent in Cheshire West.

While the use of public transport has increased by 12 per cent in Cheshire East, it has fallen by 10 per cent in Cheshire West.

Not surprisingly, the amount of residents travelling to workplaces has decreased by 33 per cent in both areas, in line with more people working from home.