WORK will begin today to prepare an area of Weymouth Beach and promenade for the Olympic events.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council has announced a closure and restriction notice for the site, which will host a free but ticketed London 2012 Torch Relay evening celebration on Thursday July 12.

The same site will be used to host the Weymouth and Portland Live site during the Olympic Games from July 27.

Restrictions will start from 8am on Monday and end at 9pm on August 17, on a 250-metre area of Weymouth Beach from Weymouth Pavilion towards the King’s Statue, between the promenade wall and the foreshore.

A four metre wide section of the promenade, from the Pavilion to Bond Street will also be affected.

There will be no access for dog walkers to the current dog area of the beach from this Monday until Wednesday, July 4.

From July 5 to 11, July 13 to 18 and August 15 to 17, a section of the beach will be available 24 hours a day.

There will be no access on Thursday July 12. From July 19 to August 14, dog walkers will be permitted daily access to the restricted area between 7am and 9am.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council apologises for any inconvenience the arrangements may cause.

The dog exercise area at Preston Beach will remain unaffected and dogs are also permitted at Castle Cove and Sandsfoot beaches.