People have raised concerns over the cost of a day out at a much-loved Dorset beach.

Those visiting Ringstead Beach not only have to pay to use a toll road down to the village - and prices have gone up this year - but there's also a charge for parking at the car park at the bottom near the café.

The combined price for those visiting the beauty spot in their cars is £9 - but more for minivans.

While the two charges may annoy some, it has been pointed out that the National Trust car park at the top of the hill (avoiding the toll road) charges £6 for the day although there are no facilities there.

And people who choose to visit Weymouth or Lulworth face paying between £12-£15 if they want to visit for the day in summer. 

A sign advises beachgoers that the road towards the coast at Ringstead is privately owned. It is believed this sign has been put up recently with new prices for this summer.

Money collected for the toll road has helped to pay for renovations to the toilets at the car park.

Dorset Echo: The charge to use the mile-long private road is £2 for motorbikes, £6 for cars and £12 for minivans and cars with a trailer.

The car park at the bottom charges £3 for the day. 

It is believed that yearly passes can also be purchased.

A Weymouth resident said: "It is such a shame as it’s a lovely area and so easy to find a spot, but I really can’t justify the cost to park down the bottom."

"It would be nice if there was a concession for locals as it's so expensive," another added. 

A beachgoer said: "It's such a nice place and I think the views justify the price."

Ringstead, a popular destination for swimmers and surfers, attracts thousands of tourists each year. The protected shingle beach is also popular with visitors who like to explore the rockpools, or go walking on nearby cliffs.

Dorset Echo: The landowner who owns the road said it had been their family's responsibility for 'generations.'

Speaking to the Echo, the landowner said that they were 'aware of the complaints.'

They said: “It’s been a toll road for longer than 40 years now - at least since the 1960s - and we have had signs up to notify people of this for the past 30 years."

They said there has been no change to the policy of the toll road in the past 30 years and the prices have only risen with the going rate of inflation.

Old sign, pictured below, has now been replaced.

Dorset Echo: Michelle Eastlake, who recently took ownership of the Reef Café at the car park, said the spot is ‘good value’ considering other options for people in the area.

She said: “The car park at the top [owned by the National Trust] is £6 without any facilities there, and a whole day out at Lulworth or Weymouth costs around £15.”

"We do get a lot of people walking to us also."