Beach police in Torrox in the Costa del Sol are now patrolling the resort’s beaches and confiscating towels and umbrellas by tourists who bag their place in the sun by putting down their stuff early before leaving for long periods.

They must then pay a £21 fine in order to get their property back.

A local council spokesman said: “We don’t want to start naming the country whose tourists are most guilty of this beach land-grabbing, but I think we can all guess who they are.

“It is infuriating to arrive at the beach and find all the space taken by towels and umbrellas, but hardly any people.

“Our new policy seems to be having the desired effect, and as a result there is less wasted space on the beach and more room for everyone.”