Owners have launched torchlight beach hut patrols

Armed with torches, members of the beach hut community will embark on late-night tours of the shingle to look for suspicious behaviour.

So far, 15 people have signed up to the Beach Hut Watch scheme in Barton and Milford-on-Sea, Hampshire.

Designed to cut crime, it comes just months after a Dorset beach hut went on the market for �140,000.

Cutting crime

Pc Del Jones, who has helped to organise the programme with the New Forest Community Safety Partnership, said: "Since records began, there have been reports of theft and damage caused to beach huts.

"This new initiative aims to provide increased security and peace of mind and I am hoping to recruit even more volunteers."

He added that the New Forest was not alone in encountering problems with anti-social behaviour.

Similar watches have been set up in other parts of the country to tackle vandalism and theft at coastal spots.