STUDLAND beach in Purbeck has been named as the UK's most popular naturist beach by a newly-relaunched national naturism website.

The fact that 1km of Studland Bay is officially designated a naturist beach by landowners the National Trust makes it the most popular resort in the country for nude sunbathing.

The website www.british-naturism.org.uk first went live in 1996 but has been relaunched to provide naturists around the country with further details of popular beaches, holidays and clubs.

The site also recommends Studland beach for its clear signposting, good facilities and clean sea.

The dunes and heathland at Studland Bay have been a magnet for naturists for more than 75 years but it wasn't until the extended heatwave of 1976 that naturists progressed from the dunes on to the open beach.

Over the last 10 years, the National Trust has clashed with naturists over its management of the beach.

Studland United Nudists (SUN) was formed by beach users in 1995 in protest over changes made to the area by the National Trust.

The trust designated a specific area of the beach for naturists, which SUN claims cut their space down by 80 per cent.

A petition calling for the restrictions to be lifted was signed by 1,200 nudists but the red marker posts dividing the beach still remain in place.