Dogs will still be excluded from West Bay and Seatown beaches in the summer months as Dorset Council announces reviewed dog restrictions.

Dorset Council's cabinet approved recommendations made to them following a consultation that gathered views from residents, visitors and businesses on dog related Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) across the Dorset Council area.

Dogs will be excluded from Seatown and West Bay East Beach and the western beach adjacent to the harbour from May 1 to September 30 and all other times will be allowed to exercise off the lead on those beaches. The restrictions do not include West Cliff Beach at West Bay - closest to Eype - or Eype Beach, both of which allow dogs all year round.

Dogs will also have to be kept on leads around West Bay harbour and the esplanade.

The order is subject to a six-week appeal period and Dorset Council hope it will be in force before December 31, 2020.

The new order is hoped to offer clarity and consistency to both dog owners and those who don't own dogs

More than 8,600 responses were received and among the recommendations approved was to harmonise the exclusion period on specific beaches to May 1 to September 30 and dogs will need to be on leads in public formal gardens, council owned car parks, within five metres of marked sports pitches and in some specified locations.

Read the full report here