COUNCILLORS have agreed to allow kayaks and skiffs to be launched on Lyme Regis beach this summer.

Lyme Regis Town Council agreed to allow Lyme Kayak Hire to run the business on the shingle beach from August until mid-October for a concession charge of £250.

The proposal gained the support of town councillors.

Cllr Michaela Ellis, said: "I think it's brilliant.

"These things should be brought back to the town's beach."

Cllr Stan Williams suggested the business should be moved to a different location.

He added: "I suggest the best place would be this (eastern) end of the town.

"We don't want to mix swimmers at the far end with that. I am all in favour of it, it's a jolly great idea."

Cllr Daryl Turner, said the preferred location would be fine "as long as the harbour master is happy with it".

Support also came from Cllr Jeff Scowen who said it was "just what Lyme needs",

He added: "They want it on the pebbles and we're not going to give up any of our sandy beach. It's a great idea."

Mayor of Lyme Regis, Cllr Owen Lovell, also gave his support to the project, warning that "the further east they come, the more it can cause danger to them".

Councillors agreed to grant permission to Lyme Kayak Hire to operate on the shingle beach, next to the trampolines.

Darren Herbert, joint director of Lyme Kayak Hire, said: "Massive thanks to Lyme Regis Town Council, for their full support and the timescale they worked to, in order that we could be up and running this year.

"It will be manned at all times by a member of staff during operational times which would be seven days a week, 9am to 7pm, weather dependent.

"The safety measures we take for the kayak hire is very high and we would ensure the same level of safety goes into the skiff hire. All users would be given a safety briefing on how to use the skiffs correctly and where the boundaries are."

Mr Herbert, who co-owns the business with Simon Lippett, currently hire out kayaks from the Tackle Box on Marine Parade.

Mr Herbert believes the attraction will be an asset to the town.

He added: "Having an attraction like this on the beach will be a great tourist attraction.

"Seaton have done something similar with the stand up paddle boards and it is proving very popular. We are keen to keep tourists in Lyme and we believe having the skiffs operating alongside the kayaks will keep Lyme one step ahead."