Bournemouth's beach replenishment scheme has been branded "a ghastly error".

Chairing an environment and economy scrutiny panel meeting at the Town Hall, Cllr Roger West said the problem of stones on the beach had been "drastically understated".

In a question to cabinet members, he added: "The beach is not just littered with large stones but is now, in some places in Southbourne, covered in sharp flints and oyster shells."

He added that residents and holidaymakers were now having to wear plastic protective shoes when they walked on the beach to avoid their feet getting badly cut.

"How is it possible that this council has allowed a contractor to deliver this completely unacceptable material onto our beach?

"What is this council doing to try to get recompense from the contractor? Why are our residents paying for what appears to have been a ghastly error?"

In reply, the council's Conservative deputy leader John Beesley said: "The situation that was presented to me soon after we took office in May was, in my view, quite appalling.

"Pre May the contract which was financed by Defra was one whereby the replenishment material was taken from off the Needles."

He admitted that the scheme had "gone horribly wrong," adding: "The cost to the Bournemouth council taxpayer is substantial. There is no budget provision for it.

"We are talking in excess of £100,000. It is no doubt quite a long way north of that figure. We have had to bring in new machinery and staff.

"It does not address the fundamental problem. A decision was taken a very long time ago about the specification and management of the beach replenishment programme. That needs further investigation.

"I need to find out why and how these issues arose and why and how they went wrong."