Two men will appear in court today after an early hours incident when police officers were allegedly assaulted as they broke up a group congregating on Weymouth seafront.

Police were called to the Esplanade early on Friday.

Dorset Police say a group said to be breaching coronavirus rules were told to leave the area.

It is reported one man allegedly coughed in the face of a police officer before being detained for assault.

Officers had to use PAVA spray as they made the arrest.

Another man in the group then allegedly spat at another officer.

Dorset Police said one of the attending police officers sustained a knee injury.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “Alexander West, aged 44 and of Blandford, and Peter Gareth Doyle, aged 34 and of Weymouth, have been charged with assaulting an emergency worker and are due to appear at Poole Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, January 16.

“West has also been charged with obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty.”