POLICE have said they are already preparing for an influx of visitors when travel restrictions are lifted this year, following problems caused by crowds in the past.

Last year when restrictions eased and temperatures soared, residents saw crowds flock to the area, and complaints were made about litter strewn along the beaches, people parking inconsiderately and police received reports of an ‘excessive’ number of people visiting.

However, Dorset Police have said that they are working proactively to coordinate and strengthen plans to deal with the increased demand that this summer will bring.

Assistant chief constable Sam de Reya, Dorset Police, said: “The Government has now announced their road map for how lockdown restrictions will be gradually lifted this summer and I know this news will be very much welcomed by both businesses and our communities.We fully expect the numbers of people travelling into Dorset this summer for a staycation to be higher than ever before.

"We want the county open and welcoming visitors so our businesses, that rely heavily on tourism, can thrive and we get the economy moving. However, encouraging people to visit Dorset must not be at the expense of people’s health.

“Our communities should feel reassured that the huge amount of planning already underway should allow people to travel into Dorset and enjoy what the county has to offer, while keeping both residents and visitors safe.”

Dorset Council has also been drawing up plans for what it expects will be a busy summer.

Dorset Council said: "We welcome the Government’s phased approach to easing lockdown restrictions. Tourism is a vital part of Dorset’s economy and we want to be able to welcome visitors as soon as we can, in the safest way possible.

“The experiences we faced last summer provided us with valuable lessons and we have been working with partners throughout the winter to ensure our plans are robust enough to cope with the potential for high numbers of visitors when the Government allows them to come.

“We would like to reassure residents that we’re planning for how we can better manage issues like littering, camping on beaches and high volumes of traffic, which we know affected some of our communities. More information about this will be released ahead of the Easter break."