TWO British men involved in organizing a massive snowball fight have each been given £10,000 (US$13,710) fines for a “blatant breach” of coronavirus lockdown rules.

Dozens of people were seen throwing snowballs at each other as crowds of people flocked to Hyde Park in Leeds on Jan. 14.

An unnamed 20-year-old and 23-year-old were slapped with the heavy fines Wednesday after being quizzed by cops probing the gathering.

The 23-year-old had already received a fine for breaching restrictions in relation to mixing with households at an address in the nearby Hyde Park area.

Under coronavirus legislation, a gathering of more than 30 people is illegal and carries a maximum £10,000 fine.

Current rules state you can leave your home to exercise by yourself, with your household or on your own with one other person.

This should be limited to once per day and you should not travel outside your local area.

Chief Superintendent Damien Miller said: “We take absolutely no pleasure in handing out such heavy fines to these two young men but their actions encouraged hundreds of people to be in close proximity to each other, creating a significant and completely unnecessary risk of increasing the spread of the virus.

“It was a blatant breach of the legislation that is in place to help keep people safe at what remains a critical time for us all.”

Shocking footage of the snowball fight was shared online and met with widespread criticism on social media.

Onlookers said they were horrified by the breach just a mile from where sick COVID patients are being treated at Leeds General Infirmary.

Miller said: “The event attracted understandable media attention and widespread public condemnation of all those who irresponsibly took part.”

(SD-Agencies)