A BEACH check app, developed after tens of thousands flocked to Bournemouth and made a mockery of social distancing rules, is to be rolled out nationally.

Civic leaders declared a 'major incident' last summer after huge crowds travelled to the resort's beaches, despite been told to stay away.

Things came to a head on June 26, on what was the hottest day of 2020 to date – during a period lockdown restrictions were easing across the country.

Read more: BCP Council declares a major incident

The Beach Check App, developed by BCP Council, was launched the following month in a bid to help visitors stick to social distancing guidelines by highlighting areas that were crowded.

Now the council has been awarded an extra £40,000 through the MHCLG Local Digital Fund to further develop and expand the app to other UK towns and cities.

Councillor Philip Broadhead, deputy leader of BCP Council, said: “We are delighted that our pioneering efforts in digital technology are contributing to our country’s efforts to tackle some of the key issues faced beyond the pandemic, in particular the use of technology to address urban challenges such as overcrowding."

The Beach Check app, which was downloaded by nearly 40,000 last year, gives residents and visitors real-time updates on the crowding status of beaches in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

Read more: BCP Council receive funding for Beach Check app

Its success attracted interest from other local authorities and coastal destination organisations, as well as VisitBritain, who are now asking to roll out the product and service in their areas.

The council will launch the Beach Check App again locally this spring before being developed and introduced to other towns and cities.

Councillor Mohan Iyengar, BCP Council’s Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Leisure and Culture, said:

“We are preparing for a good many visitors this summer as lockdown is eased and people can travel. The app will be valuable, helping people to make good choices about where to be – avoiding the busiest spots, staying distanced and being safe.

"The future looks particularly good once we can use the app to potentially signpost people to different events and attractions in our Festival Coast Live based on inputs they have made.

"All in all, it’s an aid to staying safe, building confidence and really boosting our tourism business for everyone involved.”

Festival Coast Live is a programme of activities and events planned for the conurbation, as part of plans to give the tourism industry a much-needed boost as the current lockdown comes to an end.