A WEYMOUTH caf owner claims he is losing trade because of a parking nightmare outside his premises.

Vaughan Carter, who runs the Lookout Caf on top of Bowleaze Cove, is fed up with traffic problems which he says are hitting him in the pocket.

He believes potential customers are put off from popping in because beach-goers snap up all the available road space near his business on a scenic site overlooking Weymouth Bay.

He says the problem is so bad that, on occasions, the emergency services have struggled to get through traffic in order to help people in trouble.

Mr Carter now wants Weymouth and Portland Borough Council to install parking meters and a bay to take advantage of the spectacular view across the resort.

"The majority of my customers are either elderly or disabled and when they arrive they see all the cars and think I'm full.

"The truth is that I'm virtually empty and the cars are owned by people who use the area simply because it is free," he said.

"It's costing me quite a bit of business and I don't see why these people should park here all day without charge. I'd like to see a proper parking bay built where people can sit in their car facing the sea rather than being parked in a line along the road," he added.

Mr Carter said that the amount of parked cars during the summer season last year had created problems for the emergency services.

"A man died near here last year and I remember watching the paramedics and police battling to find a way through the parked cars so they could get to him.

"It is an absolute nightmare and I'd like to think something will be done before there are any more major problems," he said.

Mr Carter, who has run the caf for five years, claimed customers have complained about the site's poor parking ever since he took over.

"This place has got great views and I feel it is a beauty spot we should take more advantage of. Creating a proper bay, with benches facing the sea and parking meters, would be one way to do that.

"The money it would cost the council to set it up would probably be made back virtually straight away through fees raised," he added.

David Painter, the council's parks and open spaces officer, said: "The land is a well-used recreation area and we've had complaints in the past from residents about vehicles being allowed to park on the grass near to the cafe.

"At present, anyone can park on the road and it will stay like that unless restrictions are put in place."