'You've got a brain, haven't you?' Police bust 40-strong party at Manchester skyscraper

Watch: Police 'spoil' party as they raid lockdown birthday bash

Footage shows the moment police enforcing coronavirus laws broke up a party of about 40 people in a Manchester city centre landmark.

Police found revellers in their 20s and 30s at the gathering early on Saturday morning after being told a fight involving 50 people had broken out at Beetham Tower.

They dispersed the crowd and the force is now considering what action to take, including the possibility of a £10,000 fine for the organiser.

Footage shows officers entering a property at around 2.50am and one tells the crowd: "Listen, you've all breached coronavirus regulations.

Read more: Police issue around 70 fines after officers disrupt illegal nightclub

"Do you know we're in a lockdown?"

As one reveller appears to explain he does not have a TV, the officer says: "But you've got a brain, though, haven't you?"

The party was one of 74 incidents Greater Manchester police attended over the weekend as part of Operation Ocean, its fight against COVID law breaches.

The force said 185 fixed penalty notices have been given out, several worth £800 each.

The fines were given out at events including an 18th birthday party attended by at least 30 people in Newton Heath on Saturday night and a staff party at an industrial estate in Salford, which hosted 17 people on Friday evening.

Reports of a wedding took officers to Oldham, where they gave out seven £800 fines after 15 people fled as police arrived, the force said.

In total, 3,700 fixed penalty notices have been given out in Greater Manchester since 31 July.

Despite the breaches, the majority of Brits are largely following lockdown rules.

A study in January found 96% of people were mostly complying – largely following the rules while bending some – an improvement since autumn.

Meanwhile, 56% said they were completely complying with restrictions.

Watch: What you can and can't do in lockdown