Polzeath Beach has proved popular with pupils from public schools

Officers used special powers to issue a total of 274 people - almost all teenagers - with a 24-hour ban from Polzeath beach in July and August.

Police created a "dispersal area" on the beach following complaints from locals about so-called "snob yobs".

The beach has been reported to be popular with Princes William and Harry.

Teenagers were banned for a range of bad behaviour, including shouting, swearing loudly and publicly urinating on the beach, said local officer Sgt Robin Hogg.

He added: "Of the ones we have got details for, the vast majority of them come from public schools.

"I have written to the individual schools asking them to help us with the behaviour of pupils away from their schools.

"I am asking them to contact the pupils and their parents to express concern about their behaviour on the beach."

Beach behaviour

Before the summer Sgt Hogg wrote a letter to the heads of every public school in the country asking them to speak to their pupils about their behaviour while on holiday.

He said: "I am looking to work with the schools and get them on board. I want to give them the chance to help me to produce the kind of behaviour I want."

Between four and 12 police officers patrolled Polzeath beach every night over the summer, keeping control of around 400 young people holding parties on the sand.

Another north Cornwall beach, which in previous years attracted up to 500 public school pupils each evening over the summer, was closed overnight this year.

Throughout July and August police and private security guards stopped people gathering at Daymer Bay, near Rock, between 10pm and 3am.

Sgt Hogg said the move was a huge success, with crime reduced to nil and Daymer Bay residents reporting "the quietest year they've ever had".