A father and two young sons say they were sent home by police while making a snowman in the park.

Tim Greany and his boys Bo, 6, and Wren, 8, were taking photographs of their snowman when they were told to leave.

The family say there were ‘upset and annoyed’ when the officer told them to play in their own garden, but their London flat does not have one.

Bo told BBC Newsround that being unable to play outside has made him feel ‘bored and frustrated’.

The Government waded into the incident to say it recognises ‘the importance of exercise to the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of children’ and has left playgrounds open for this reason.

But the Cabinet spokesperson said: ‘Playgrounds are primarily for use by children who do not have access to private outdoor space, and while parents, guardians or carers are allowed to take children to a playground for exercise, they must not socialise with other people while there.’

Playing Out, a group which ordinarily encourages parents to organise play sessions for children on their streets, has said children are ‘suffering’ due to unclear guidelines.

The group’s co-director Alice Ferguson said they are asking the Government to ‘include play as essential exercise’ – one of the limited reasons people are allowed to leave the house under current legislation.

Ms Ferguson said: ‘Children playing outside doesn’t get recognised as being exercise because it doesn’t look like exercise in the way adults do it, like going for a run.

‘It would give parents reassurance that it’s a legitimate reason to be outside with their children if it were included in the guidelines.

‘There is a lack of clarity, and the people that suffer in the end are the children who are not able to exercise.’

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