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MORE than 500 people were fined for infringing regulations inside the Cabo de Gata-Nijar national park this summer.

Most of the 511 sanctions were issued to motorhome owners for wild camping between sunset and sunrise inside the park, Junta de Andalucia sources told the Spanish media.

Environmental officers had played an important part, the same sources said, by explaining rules in person to campervan occupants or, when not present, by leaving an explanatory note on vehicles.

This was carried out before sundown and, although it had still been necessary to fine hundreds of owners, the majority cooperated and left the park as required, police said.

Thirty per cent of the Cabo de Gata-Nijar fines were issued to Almeria province residents, the Junta revealed, while the remaining 70 per cent were summer visitors from other provinces and regions.