Tourists are vowing to never return to a popular beach because a "disgusting smell" - caused by a huge build-up of seaweed.
The mass of algae has washed up on the sand in Weymouth, Dorset and, as temperatures have hit around 20C there this week, the seaweed has dried and rotted on the shore.
It has emitted an unpleasant smell, which has disappointed families hoping to enjoy the beach this week.
One tourist, who only wanted to be called Chris H, saw children in tears due to the carpet of kelp.
"Our memories were shattered with just one look at the beach and the state the council have decided to leave it in," the guest added.
"The vast quantities of wet and drying piles of seaweed which had to be walked over if you want to get to the sea.
"I saw children crying as they didn't like walking on it and the days of seeing clear blue clean water where, if you were lucky you could see shoals of baby fish, have gone.
"So we left with these memories, and we shall not be in a hurry to return."
The seaweed can be seen from a distance away, reports Dorset Live, but the council has decided not to remove it.
Another negative reviewer wrote online: "The sea is brown because it is full of small pieces of seaweed that is washing ashore. When you go into the sea you are covered in it when you get out.
"To reach the sea you have to walk through a thick mat of rotting seaweed about 6ft wide and 6 inches deep (like a huge cowpat) along the beach. In the lovely warm weather we are having it is attracting lots of flies and is really smelly.
"It's really unpleasant and there is no alternative but to walk through it to get to the sea. I would avoid Weymouth beach, especially with young children."
Weymouth Town Council is aware of the "unsightly" seaweed, they made a "conscious decision not to routinely remove any animals or plants" and will allow the kelp to be washed away.
But Michael, a guest from Nottinghamshire, commented his sixth and most recent trip to Weymouth left him disgruntled with the state of the “wonderful sandy beach”. He wrote:
"This year, however, its appeal was somewhat diminished due to the state of the sand.
"Large quantities of seaweed have been washed ashore and, as opposed to previous years, this has been left to rot, resulting in a smelly and fly-infested carpet. Also when the tide comes in, the weed refloats and creates a wide area with the texture of vegetable soup. Many small children particularly were put off by this, partly because by the time they got beyond it, the water was too deep for them."
The volume of seaweed currently on the beach is thought to have been caused by easterly winds blowing the kelp towards the shore. Tourists have been seen avoiding the dark dried seaweed and walking around the piles instead.
A spokeswoman for Weymouth Town Council said: “We are aware of recent comments about seaweed on a small area of our award-winning beach. Occasionally north easterly winds result in seaweed being washed up on the southern section of the beach. We appreciate that the seaweed might be unsightly until it is washed back out into the bay but as caretakers of this beautiful and diverse coastal environment, we have made a conscious decision not to routinely remove any animals or plants.
"This decision supports our commitment to preserving the ecosystem’s integrity and avoiding any potential harm that may arise from interfering with its natural course. Seaweed is an important resource for marine invertebrates and a food source for many species.
"While we understand that our approach may not align with some personal preferences, it is important to note that we are not striving to provide a synthetic, controlled swimming pool experience. Instead, we invite visitors to embrace the raw beauty of nature in its unaltered form, which includes the presence of seaweed, along with other fascinating marine life such as crabs, seals, jellyfish, and dolphins.
"Weymouth beach has been honoured with both the Seaside Award and the Blue Flag Award. These accolades underscore our dedication to maintaining cleanliness, safety, high-quality services, water quality, and environmental management. We take great pride in upholding these standards and continuously strive to provide an exceptional beach experience for our valued visitors."
