A SPANISH beach popular with British tourists has been closed for a month after a rare discovery.

       The beach of Sant Adrià de Besòs, near Barcelona, is off limits to protect the nest of a Little Ringed Plover located at the mouth of the Besòs river.

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       The beach of Sant Adrià de Besòs, near Barcelona, is off limits Credit: Getty 2

       The nest of a Little Ringed Plover has been located at the mouth of the Besòs river Credit: Getty - Contributor

       The small wading birds lay eggs along the coast and sunbathers often accidentally destroy them.

       Agents Rurals, of the government of Catalonia, said the beach would remain closed until the end of July.

       A statement read: "With @AjSantAdria we mark a beach area at the mouth of the Besós river to protect a spawning of the small corriol (charadrius dubius), a protected species.

       "We will maintain the measure until the end of July to guarantee its viability.

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       "We look after the protection of fauna."

       The protected species (charadrius dubius) has a black beak, pale legs and a distinctive yellow eye-ring.

       It is sandy-brown above and white below, with a black chest-band and black bridle markings on the head.

       It comes after a popular beach in Arenal, Alicante, was closed following reports of high levels of faecal bacteria in the water.

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       Shipwreck - or Navagio - beach on the party paradise island of Zante was also shut this summer due to fears its crumbling cliffs could collapse.

       Meanwhile, a deadly Portuguese Man O’War was spotted lurking in the water off a Benidorm beach.