FROM the beginning of October, dogs have been allowed to return to several beaches in Dorset after summer restrictions were lifted.

Dogs are prohibited from many beaches between April and October - the main season when the coast is usually busy.

The restrictions are part of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) that came into effect in January 2021.

Those who fail to comply with the PSPO can be subject to a fixed penalty notice from authorised council officers with the current penalty at £100 to be paid within 28 days or £75 if paid in 14 days.

For more information about the beaches visit the Dorset Council website.

Bridport area

Burton Bradstock Beach - No formal restrictions but National Trust requests that beach users do not exercise dogs between May 1 and September 30.

Seatown Beach - Dogs allowed October 1 to April 30.

West Bay Beach - Dogs allowed October 1 to April 30 (east and west side of harbour).

Charmouth and Lyme Regis

Charmouth Beach - Dogs can go on the west beach until April 30, while year-round they are allowed on the east side.

Lyme Regis - Dogs allowed Front Beach October 1 to April 30; Church Cliff and Monmouth - all year round.

Purbeck

Swanage Beach - Dogs allowed October 1 to April 30.

Studland beach - Dogs are free to roam the beaches until May 1. From then they must be kept on a lead.

Durdle Door; Kimmeridge Bay; Lulworth Cove; Man O' War Beach - all year round.

Weymouth and Portland

Greenhill Groyne to Overcombe - all year round.

Dog exercise area (by Pavilion) - all year round.

Greenhill Groyne to dog exercise area (main sandy beach) - October 1 to April 30.

Bowleaze Cove - all year round.

Chesil Beach from Tank Teeth Boundary at Abbotsbury to the Portland Boundary Stone - Dogs allowed on leads to the outer flank (seaward side) of the beach from September 1 to April 30.

Church Ope Cove, Portland - all year round.