Leader of Nottingham City Council, Neghat Khan, said residents had felt intimidated when they saw people wearing balaclavas, skeleton masks or other face coverings without a legitimate reason.

"Our residents should be able to live, work and spend time in Nottingham without feeling frightened or unsafe," Khan added. "That is why we are taking decisive action and becoming one of the first cities in the country to introduce a restriction of this kind.

"This is not about telling people what they can wear or targeting those who have a genuine reason for covering their face.

"It is about giving authorised officers the power to act where a face covering is being used to help conceal a person's identity in connection with crime or anti-social behaviour, or where it is worn in a manner that intimidates, harasses, alarms or distresses others."

The enforcement will not apply to face coverings worn for legitimate reasons, including religious, cultural, health, work, weather or personal safety reasons.