VILLAGERS say overnight visitors are turning their car park into a campsite.

Residents of West Bexington near Bridport claim people from all over Europe are flocking to Beach Road to see the stunning sea views.

They say problems started when word got around that the car park only charged 30p for vehicles to stay overnight.

Visitors have been sleeping in camper vans, clogging up parking space and leaving rubbish at the site.

Now following a meeting with villagers West Dorset District Council has pledged to enforce rules to stop traffic chaos developing this summer.

Local resident Lester Cowling said: "I think that the overwhelming view is that we must end this menace of people camping permanently or for days on the car park.

"Very often we get people sleeping for days on end and some of them can get abusive.

"We are very much in favour of tourists who have every right to enjoy the wonderful Jurassic coastline but it's got to the stage where they can't get in the car park because it is full.

He said problems reached a peak last summer when the council said parking rules were too difficult to enforce.

"Somehow word got around on websites in places like Poland, Austria and Germany that it was a cheap place to stay.

"Putting prices up is one of the options favoured by residents because the 30p is too low.

"Maybe something like a £30 overnight charge might deter people."

The car park is due to undergo a £120,000 facelift in the autumn.

The council will spend the money extending the size of the car park from 52 spaces to 90.

In recent years the size has been reduced from around 100 spaces as a result of sea erosion.

West Dorset District Council's technical services manager Steve Woollard said the meeting of Puncknowle and Swyre Parish Council had been 'very constructive'.

He said: "There was a general agreement that the main problem was camper vans breaking rules by staying several nights.

"Council parking staff will make it a priority to enforce rules to discourage this. Everyone at the meeting agreed that it was unnecessary to introduce double yellow lines on Beach Road and barriers at the car park entrance."

He said villagers were being asked to complete a survey to find a long-term solution.

Forms are available online at www.dorsetforyou.com/parking or by calling the parking services team on 01305 252240.