Benidorm crackdown on sunbed hoggers after war between Brits and locals over beach loungers breaks out

SUNBED hoggers in Benidorm are facing a tough new crackdown after a war erupted between Brits and locals over beach loungers.

Spanish council chiefs have said they will get tough with repeat offenders after photos emerged of locals trying to beat Brit tourists to prime spots by setting up sunbeds in the middle of the night.

Incredible pictures published yesterday showed locals grabbing the best spots by the sea before dawn, when many holidaymakers were still out partying or snoring in bed.

The photos showed beach-lovers, described as Benidorm locals, setting up large umbrellas and deckchairs.

Council chiefs said they are aware of the problem - and insisted police have been given powers to remove items abandoned on the sand where it is creating conflict.

But they denied Spanish early risers were deliberately trying to deprive British holidaymakers of the best beach spots.

Monica Gomez, Benidorm’s Councillor for Beaches and the Environment, admitted some Spaniards traditionally laid claims to the top spots by the shoreline as early as 6am - after cleaners had been around.

But in her first comments on the controversy, she claimed some of those setting up before dawn were then taking an early-morning stroll along the beach before the heat kicked in, rather than heading back home or to their hotels to get back into bed or have breakfast.

After being shown the photos of the so-called Benidorm beach wars, she said: “Traditionally there are people who get up very early to make sure they get a spot at the front of the beach nearest the shoreline and stay there all morning enjoying the sea.

“It happens in Benidorm as well as other holiday resorts.

“Here there are cases of people who put out their sun umbrellas and sun loungers after beach cleaning finishes around 6am and then go for a stroll along the beach before the sun gets too strong.

“There are also people who put out their belongings at this early time of the morning and go home, and that is something that is not allowed.

“By-laws mean the local police have the power to the act when items are left on the beach in this way and it leads to conflict between beachgoers.

"Police always act when required to in order to mediate and try to resolve disputes to make sure both parties can enjoy a good day out on the sand.

“If it’s proved someone has abandoned their sun umbrella or sun lounger the police have the power to remove it.

“Generally the items are left on the beach itself, by one of the entry points or by the lifeguard’s tower.

“That means that when the person concerned goes to pick them up they can be advised this is something they shouldn’t be doing so they can be urged not to repeat it.

“We always appeal to peoples’ personal responsibility so we all exercise a correct use of our beaches and enjoy them.

“However if people persist in this sort of behaviour where they abandon sunbeds and umbrellas and generate conflict with other beach users, the police can sanction them for a reiteration of a practice that is not permitted.”

She added: “You have to bear in mind that it’s not always easy to determine when belongings have been abandoned because there are people who take advantage of the cooler temperatures in the early morning to go for a stroll and in that case we’re not talking about an ‘abandonment’ that can be sanctioned.

“People that get up this early are not doing it with the aim of deliberately depriving British holidaymakers of the best spots on the front-line of the beach, far from it.

“In Spain there are people who traditionally get up very early to go to the beach, meaning others who turn up later such as other Spaniards, British tourists or people of any other nationality have to pick spots further away from the shoreline.

“Fortunately the beaches in Benidorm are large and comfortable and have great amenities, meaning you don’t have to be by the shoreline to enjoy a magnificent day at the beach.”

Last month a holidaymaker was described as the "King of the Sunbed Hoggers" after he was filmed sprinting for the sunbeds at a Spanish resort before dumping five towels down as others scrambled for a space.

The rest of the holidaymakers didn't stand a chance as he skipped through the row of seats with his towels at the ready.

A Brit filmed scenes described as a "worst nightmare" when holidaymakers in Majorca rushed to grab sun loungers for a day by the pool.

While a couple of "sunbed warriors" were told to "go back to bed" after they were caught unstacking the sunbeds at a resort so they could put their towels down before anyone else.

And the king of the sunbed hoggers told The Sun Online how to always bag the best loungers by the pool on holiday.