The first three electric cooking stations at ￡10,000 each were opened to great fanfare three weeks ago. But they have been clogged with congealed fat and sand.

       Bob Lister, chairman of the Poole Beach Huts Association, said: "The three at Branksome Chine are out of action.They were only in action for 10 days."

       Lib Dem councillor Vikki Slade branded the grills a "vanity project", claiming fat runs into a container "but the council had not arranged for them to be emptied. When they finally realised this they had to close the barbecues and do a deep clean.

       "We are not Australia. This is Bournemouth. This is an absolute farce and the fact it was screwed up within a week says it all."

       She said the ￡106,000 bill for 10 barbies along the seven-mile promenade "could have been so much better spent".

       At the launch of the first three, Drew Mellor, leader of the Tory-run council, said: "People can rock up, turn it on, do their cooking, all in 20 minutes.

       "We have seen them work very well in Australia."

       A Bournemouth Council spokesman said: "We apologise for the fact that the three beach barbecues at Branksome Chine were closed for a few days. This was due to staffing issues but they are now fully operational."

       The other seven grills are due to open soon.