The myth that Dorset is perfect for wild camping will have to be tackled ahead of the coming summer season, according to a Dorset councillor.

Chesil Bank councillor Mark Roberts has said residents are getting fed up of the car park at West Bexington being full of motor homes and the beach being dotted with tents, as well as the resulting mess, including excrement, left behind.

Cllr Roberts told a Dorset Council Scrutiny Committee that there had been 100 tents on the beach at some times over the past two years.

The situation had improved slightly with the introduction of anti-social behaviour measures and increased patrols, but he called for further action.

"There are social media sites advising that is one of the best places on the south coast to come to for wild camping," said Cllr Roberts, suggesting that tougher measures, including prosecutions, might help the situation in the future.

"It is a great nuisance for residents as there are no facilities and the mess left behind is not welcomed by anybody."

Community safety officer Graham Duggan said that patrols, including those by council officers with the police, had helped but measures needed to be found to discourage people from coming in the first place.

"It is very much in the public eye and something we want to work on with local communities," he said.

"There are known issues at West Bexington and we will listen to the concerns and practical ideas to crack down on the problem."

Sherborne councillor Jon Andrews, who fishes from the beach, said he had often arrived early in the morning or late in the day to be met by rangers and the police, which he welcomed.

He questioned whether there was a way to charge for camping, but was told that the site was largely controlled by the National Trust and that charging for camping was unlikely to be welcomed.

Mr Duggan said it may be possible to enlist the help of councils in the areas where people typically travelled from to dissuade their residents from making the journey to wild camp, or to use social media channels in those areas to get the message out that wild camping on Dorset beaches was not tolerated.