SUN seekers have voted Weymouth Beach as one of the best in the country.
The town’s golden sands came seventh nationally in the 2013 Travellers’ Choice Beaches Awards.
Millions of tourists using the TripAdvisor website over a period of 12 months worldwide picked their favourite hotspots.
Hengistbury Head, near Bournemouth, came fifth and Sandbanks came eighth in the poll.
Councillor Ian Bruce, spokesman for tourism and culture at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, said the resort’s beach deserved to come even higher than seventh.
He said: “We are delighted because this came from real people coming out and voting for their favourite beaches.
“I expect Weymouth beach would have come even higher if we had more traditional holidaymakers coming this year.
“In my opinion it’s the best in the country and should have been number one.
“I am pleased to know that the people who saw our beach while watching the Olympics know it’s as good as it looks and came down to try it for themselves.”
Coun Bruce added: “Three of the top ten beaches in the country are in Dorset and all within easy distance of Weymouth, which is more good news.
“Weymouth beach is positively managed by the borough council which means we have a very high standard of cleansing and supervision on the beach to make sure children and others are as safe as possible.
“There’s so much to do here and I really hope people will come and try the artist-designed deck chairs this summer.”
TripAdvisor announced the winners of its 2013 Travellers’ Choice Beaches Awards today based on feedback from millions of travellers who use the site.
Emma Shaw, TripAdvisor spokesman, said: “These awards recognise the best beaches in the UK and beyond, according to those that really matter, travellers that have visited these beaches and given them the highest levels of praise.
“It’s great to see Dorset coming up trumps against beaches in Portugal, Spain and Italy.”
Travellers Choice Awards
1. Rhossili Bay, Swansea
2. Woolacombe Beach, Devon
3. Porthminster Beach, St Ives, Cornwall
4. Longsands Beach, Newcastle upon Tyne
5. Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth
6. Fistral Beach, Newquay, Cornwall
7. Weymouth Beach, Weymouth,
8. Sandbanks, Poole,
9. Filey Beach, Filey, Yorkshire
10. St Brelade’s Bay Beach, Jersey
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