There is no set limit on how long people are allowed out of their homes for exercise, but residents should be sensible.

That’s the message from government Ministers as Covid restrictions on travel and leisure continue to cause confusion.

Police say people should only make journeys if they are essential.

Officers stopped 150 vehicles on Saturday, to ask people what they were doing and where they were going.

Social media posts from the Isle of Man Constabulary had suggested that people should exercise for an hour a day.

Following reports of one resident going on a cycle ride for several hours, the police were asked for clarity.

TweetbeatIoM responded by suggesting that an hour seemed sensible.

Police accepted there are no time limits set out in the legislation but suggested that ’longer than an hour seems to be pushing the principle’.

Minister for Health and Social Care David Ashford, speaking at a press briefing on Sunday, said that while there is no limit of how long people can exercise for, people should ’be sensible’ about how long they are out for.

He said: ’Police aren’t exceeding their powers, they are quite entitled to stop people and ask what they’re doing and where they’re going, that is a perfectly legitimate thing for the police to be doing.

’It is important people recognise that the police are there to assist us at this time.

’In terms of the exercise, people should be going out for one form of exercise.

’It’s all about common sense. For instance, someone going for a walk in a glen that isn’t too busy is perfectly fine, but they shouldn’t be going into areas that are crowded.’

Police advise that people should try to avoid travelling too far to do their exercise and it would be better to stay within walking distance of your home.

Mr Ashford said: ’If people are going out to deserted areas, they can keep the social distancing, that is absolutely fine.

’What isn’t fine, is if people are treating it like a family day out, or a day out for them, going for six, seven-hour treks.’