Cinderford Town Council has turned off its public wi-fi service in a bid to discourage groups gathering.

The council announced its decision in a statement on its Facebook page on Sunday evening.

The council says it hopes to be able to provide a limited service where there is a need.

The statement read: “Due to concerns about people congregating in the Triangle, we have taken the decision to suspend our free WiFi service in the town centre.

“We appreciate at this time that people may need WiFi to access government information, apply for grants and to stay in contact with family.

“If you need access for these reasons, please contact us and we will try to issue a limited time pass to enable access for a short period with strict rules about isolating yourself and staying safe while using our service.”

The comments on social media were broadly supportive of the council’s decision.