Sunbed wars could be a thing of the past as holidaymakers have been warned they face fines of more than ￡200 if they try to hog the best spots on the beach before breakfast.

       Holidaymakers could face hefty fines if they attempt to secure the prime beach spots before breakfast, as the sunbed wars continue.

       In the popular Costa Blanca resort of Calp, just a 25-minute drive from Benidorm, police will be removing sunbeds, towels, parasols and any other items left on the sand before 9.30 am.

       Those who violate this rule, both tourists and locals alike, will have to pay to retrieve their belongings from a municipal depot and will also be hit with a penalty charge of €250 (￡214).

       A similar stance is being taken against those sun worshippers who try to reserve the best spots by taking a lengthy lunch followed by a siesta, leaving their belongings unattended for more than three hours.

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       A council spokesperson stated on X: "This measure prohibits the indiscriminate occupation of the public domain, especially the beach, with items such as chairs, hammocks and parasols at the start of the day. These bad habits make it difficult to clean the beaches."

       Owners found to have placed sunbeds, umbrellas and other such items on the beach before 9.30 am can now be reported and their belongings confiscated.

       Umbrellas, chairs or hammocks left for more than three hours without the presence of their owners throughout the day may be removed and transferred to a municipal depot.

       The local council has grappled with complaints from locals about visitors placing their belongings on the beach to occupy prime spots for years.

       Last summer, Benidorm's council bosses pledged to crack down on repeat offenders who were accused of outsmarting British tourists by setting up their sunbeds by the shoreline in the dark before heading home for a lie-in.

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       The issue has re-emerged this year as more Spaniards are expected to visit the renowned Costa Blanca resort.

       Spain's new strategy follows in the footsteps of popular Greek holiday destinations for Brits started using drones to clamp down on the misuse of deckchairs and umbrellas.

       The drones, launched by Greece's ministry, have been used in conjunction with an app to issue fines totalling €350,000 following new regulations introduced this year dictating the size of sunbeds and their usage duration.

       The rules stipulate that no rental deckchairs and umbrellas are permitted on the beaches of Halkidiki and they must be positioned at least four metres from the water.

       Since these measures were implemented, it is reported that authorities have responded to over 1,000 complaints.