Our beautiful beach loved by Premier League stars is ‘destroyed' by ‘eyesore' 8ft fence – but alternative is even WORSE

It's located just a stone's throw away from a holiday hotspot enjoyed by Wayne Rooney's family
SANDS BAD Our beautiful beach loved by Premier League stars is 'destroyed' by 'eyesore' 8ft fence – but alternative is even WORSE
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
A PICTURESQUE beach loved by Premier League stars is being "destroyed" by an "eyesore" eight-foot fence.
Disgruntled locals have slammed the "nuisance" two-mile electric fence wreaking havoc in Gronant, North Wales.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
10
Harry Maguire's wife Fern Hawkins and their family have also recently visited Presthaven Sands
Credit: BackGrid
10
A two-mile electric fence has sparked some backlash at a popular North Wales holiday spot
Credit: fpnw.co.uk©2025
10
The barrier is in place to protect rare wildlife
Credit: fpnw.co.uk©2025
The boundary has been erected by council staff and wildlife experts to protect rare birds from foxes, crows, dogs and tourists.
It's located just a stone's throw away from a holiday hotspot enjoyed by former England striker Wayne Rooney, wife Coleen Rooney and children.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire and Fern Hawkins have also recently visited Presthaven Sands with their family.
And, ex-Three Lions Rio Ferdinand has stayed there too with wife Kate.
But residents say the area could be blighted by the massive border, which is set to go up over the sand dunes.
Council officials maintain it is necessary to keep Little Terns, which which fly to the UK from west Africa at the end of April, safe.
The fence will stay until the end of August.
Dog walker Rhodri Jones, 67, told The Sun: 'It's there for a good reason but it is a bit of an odd eyesore on such a beautiful beach.
'It can be a bit of a nuisance if the tide is in and you have to make a detour but the birds do need protecting.'
Coastal ranger Rick Masson said: 'When you first come across it, it can seem pretty odd.
'I thought that myself. But it's vital and is doing a real good job for the birds.
'We've had a steady increase in the number of Little Terns and this is one of the few places they come to breed.
'People come from all over the country and even Europe to come and see them and there's always a ranger here.
Looking over the sand dunes, he added: 'I haven't heard people grumble about the fence but you do get the odd one.
10
E x-Three Lions Rio Ferdinand and his wife Kate have stayed there too
Credit: Instagram
10
The beach is a stone's throw away from a caravan site loved by Wayne and Coleen Rooney
Credit: instagram
10
A dog walker dubbed the fence 'a nuisance'
Credit: fpnw.co.uk©2025
'Most people understand why it's here and they just have to go round it.'
The Little Tern arrives back in Britain from West Africa at the end of April to breed on sand or shingle beaches, spits or small inshore islands.
The beach at Gronant offers good nesting habitat as it is made up of a perfect mix of shingle and sand in areas.
It is the only breeding ground in Wales.
Last year, 166 breeding pairs were recorded and 158 fledglings were counted - a small increase on the previous year.
However crows managed to snatch 60 eggs in 2005, while a fox got inside in 2017 resulting in the loss of 160 eggs after a storm blew away sand under a fence.
Retired teacher Denis Pithon, 77, said: "It's a good thing the fence is there to protect them.
'Most people are in favour of it and everyone understands the birds need protecting.
'Their main danger is the North Wales weather especially if there is a storm and then a fox gets in.'
This comes as locals from another seaside resort say their town is being ruined by millions of day-trippers who fight, drink and use drugs in the street.
Weymouth in Dorset is famous for its sandy beaches, which attracts two million day trips a year and millions of holidaymakers' money annually.
But recently, some locals and BnB and hotel owners have been left fuming following reports of fights, drinking and even drug deals in their streets.
Elsewhere, fuming residents say their town has been destroyed by "scumbag" social media tourists who bring "vomiting drunks" to the area.
Whitby in North Yorkshire is famous for its towering cliffs, unspoilt beaches and award-winning fish and chips.
But locals are fed-up with "talentless" influencers wreaking havoc in the seaside town.
Our beautiful seaside town is ruined by NUDISTS who openly have sex all over our beach
By Summer Raemason
FUMING locals have blasted nudists who openly have sex on a popular UK holiday beach.
Disgruntled residents have slammed beachgoers who strip off at Corton beach, near Lowestoft in Suffolk.
An official warning sign was put up just weeks ago on the sands but has since been mysteriously taken down.
The holiday hotspot fronts a retirement village - but people living there say they are fed-up.
Local Steve Shepherd, 68, a retired newspaper executive, told The Sun: "It's no longer safe to take children there to play on their beach.
"It started about three years ago and has got worse every year since since – I was with my two and three-year-old grandchildren last summer and there were naked men deliberately showing off and flaunting themselves.
'It is so offensive that we can no longer take our grandchildren to play on the beach. Unfortunately the beach is now getting a reputation – and becoming famous - so the problem will only get worse.
'Apart from the holidaymakers here there are people who live her all the time and now in the summer they can't go down to the sea.'
The Azure Seas village, which has more than 100 holiday and permanent cabins and homes which cost up to £200,000, is set in 15 acres of woodland on the cliffs overlooking the controversial beach and has its own direct access to the sea.
Sales manager Duncan Gooch said: 'It's got nothing to do with nudity what so ever – it is the behaviour of some who go there, a group who think it is OK to indulge in lewd and sexual behaviour on the beach, openly in front of other people.
'It is blatant and deliberate – some are clearly exhibitionists and we take offence – as does everyone living or staying here – at their behaviour.
'Things have got worse over recent so year and are now so bad that a lot of people simply won't go onto the beach because it is full of naked exhibitionists parading up and down and having sex.
"We have complained to the police and they say they will look into it.
'But they told us there was nothing we could do about it. Callers who complain are simply give a reference number.
"We have 100 holiday and permanent homes here but this perverted sexual activity – which goes on from dawn until after dusk – is not what they want to see.'
10
It has been erected by the council and wildlife conservation experts
Credit: fpnw.co.uk©2025
10
Little Terns fly to the UK from west Africa at the end of April
Credit: fpnw.co.uk©2025
10
Nick Morran, Wildlife warden for Denbighshire council
Credit: fpnw.co.uk©2025

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Wales Online

39 minutes ago

• Wales Online

Shaun Edwards' true feelings on Andy Farrell as he ordered boss to make decision

Shaun Edwards' true feelings on Andy Farrell as he ordered boss to make decision Edwards and Lions head coach Farrell were team-mates in their playing days before becoming two of the best rugby union coaches in the world Andy Farrell, the Lions head coach (Image: 2025 Getty Images ) When Andy Farrell leads the Lions in Australia this summer he will hope for fewer obstacles than his experience three decades ago when he was thrust into a leadership role on a very different Lions tour. At just 21, Farrell was part of what is regarded as one of the most disastrous rugby tours ever embarked upon when he captained Great Britain Lions rugby league team in Papua New Guinea, Fiji and New Zealand. ‌ Even for such a precocious talent, the fact that Farrell was captaining the side was an indication of the challenges facing the side before they even left English shores. ‌ Set against the backdrop of a rugby league civil war, proposed mergers and the imminent professionalisation of rugby union, meant that a host of experienced internationals were forced to withdraw from the squad. Then when the team arrived in Papua New Guinea, things did not get any better, with tour manager Phil Lowe dealing with personal issues and finance becoming a major issue for those on the ground. Phil Larder, who went on to be the mastermind of England's defence on their way to 2003 World Cup glory in union, was the head coach, and remembers how Farrell was able to rise above the many obstacles thrown the players' way. Article continues below He said: 'It was pretty difficult, we didn't realise how difficult it was until we landed in Papua New Guinea. That was our first stop, there were problems straightaway. We hadn't got any finance in the group to purchase water, so we had no water. 'So after four or five days, myself and half the squad were puking up and shitting all the time because we had this infection. 'We managed to get a reasonable result against PNG and by the time we hit Fiji, things had turned out a little bit better. But it was a major concern and some of the players were still struggling, they had lost quite a bit of weight.' ‌ Things got even worse when Maurice Lindsay, the chief executive of the Rugby Football League, brought home half of the squad early to cut costs, destroying the morale of those who remained. And yet Farrell, who was not initially named as captain, very quickly became the leader of this group. Watch the Lions rugby tour on Sky Sports This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more £35 Sky Get Sky Sports here Product Description Sky Sports is the exclusive broadcaster of the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, with all three Tests and six warm-up matches available to enjoy with Sky's Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle. ‌ Larder added: 'Andy wasn't somebody who I had identified to be captain, but as the tour developed, it was obvious that he was the leader of the lads, he was the one that they all looked up to and he was playing exceptionally well, as well. He became my captain, that was how it happened. 'He, like me, and like Phil Lowe, found it very difficult. It wasn't easy for Lowey, because he had no money to play about with, it wasn't easy for me as head coach and it certainly wasn't easy for the players. And Faz just came through as a natural leader, not only on the pitch but outside as well. Everybody in the squad looked up to him. This was the reason I made him captain. 'The thing about Andy is he's got presence. If he walks into a room, he seems to attract people to him. Players latch onto that. ‌ 'I'd been to Papua New Guinea and Fiji and seen the boys train and play and seen how Andy bossed the show. It became an automatic choice to make him captain. 'For everybody, it was a completely miserable tour but particularly the second string who were forced to go home before the end of the tour. That broke everything up and the Test team were furious about it because their mates were in the other team. It was the most difficult job that I've had and the most difficult job for the players. But Andy was the one that seemed to be able to handle the situation better than most and the players looked up to him.' That should probably not have come as a surprise. After all, Farrell had been tipped as a massive talent from his early schoolboy days. ‌ Shaun Edwards' order to Wigan boss Shaun Edwards was one of the key figures at Wigan at the time, and told Lindsay, who was the Wigan chairman, that he had to do everything in his power to get Farrell onboard. The France defence coach recalls: 'Everybody was after him, he was potentially one of the best players ever. I thought it was absolutely vital that he signed for Wigan. I remember speaking to Maurice because I was a senior player by that stage. Whatever financial packet it took, we needed to give it to him because he was a special talent. Alan Tait of Leeds is tackled by Shaun Edwards and Andy Farrell of Wigan during a match in 1995 ‌ 'He settled straight in, he is probably one of the most mature lads I've ever known at 17. He was physically mature and also mentally mature. He was playing in his first-ever final, Dean Bell was the captain of our team. They put Faz in with Dean Bell because they thought he would help support Andy with it being his first game at Wembley. 'The morning of the match, Faz was watching TV and Dean Bell was in the toilets being sick with nerves, so Faz went and had his arm around him saying 'Don't worry Deano, we'll batter these lot'. That sums him up, very confident, with a bit of humour about him and absolutely world class.' France defence coach Shaun Edwards (Image:) ‌ A 20-14 win over a Larder-coach Widnes duly ensued and Farrell has not looked back. Having achieved everything there was to achieve in league, he made the jump across to union in 2005, joining Saracens and quickly becoming a dual-code international. When injury forced him into retirement in 2009, he turned his hand to coaching, for Saracens and then under Stuart Lancaster with the England Saxons. ‌ Lancaster recalled: 'On a hunch, not really knowing Andy at all, I asked if he was interesting in helping me coach the Saxons through the Six Nations games and the Churchill Cup. 'We both got on very well straightaway. I needed someone to come in a coach the backs and run the defence. 'I think Andy enjoyed the responsibility of coaching the attack, the backs as well as the defence. There were only two of us so we basically did it all together. Not only was he very good on the defence, but he was also very good as a second set of eyes but also as a second presence. ‌ 'As a head coach, you are always looking for someone who could support you. Sometimes you can step back a bit and the other coach steps up, Andy was very good at that. He would bring energy at the right time and bring his presence to support me as the head coach.' That word presence is one that keeps coming up, and will no doubt be a big part of how he leads in Australia. Nearly 30 years from the absolute disaster of New Zealand, expect Farrell the head coach to enjoy a lot more success this time around. After all, as Edwards says: 'He's a proven winner.' Article continues below A Lions Rugby Club membership gives you access to a whole series of member-only benefits such as priority ticket access, live events, bespoke welcome pack, competitions, exclusive content, and much more. Find out more at

Daily Mirror

39 minutes ago

• Daily Mirror

Arsenal to break seven-year transfer rule for Benjamin Sesko after £60m deal

Arsenal are interested in RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko and are taking a different approach to the transfer window as Mikel Arteta looks to solve his side's problems in attack Arsenal have taken a specific approach to their transfer dealings since Mikel Arteta took over as Gunners boss. The club targeting RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko would represent a departure from Arsenal's usual tactics as they look to sign a player from the Bundesliga for the first time since 2018. The Gunners may have bought players from across Europe and even the Brazilian market in recent years, but the Premier League has remained the preferred shopping destination. From Aaron Ramsdale to Ben White, Arsenal have often turned to players with experience in England. That is because Premier League proven players are a known quantity and are more likely to succeed if they are already performing well in the top-flight. ‌ Predicting the success of players changing country and league style is a trickier task. There's a general consensus that those from La Liga will fare well. Meanwhile, Arsenal have primarily targeted defenders from Serie A. Ligue 1 is full of young talent and South America is a similar treasure trove of promising players. However, Arsenal have chosen to steer clear of signing players from Germany. ‌ Arsenal's squad is a blend of academy players and a strong Premier League core - White and Declan Rice have elevated their game, while Kai Havertz has adapted well. Even Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus played their roles expertly for 12 to 18 months after arriving from Manchester City. New additions to the league have come in the form of Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard from either side of Madrid, as well as centre-back partnership Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba signing from French clubs. Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu caught the eye in Serie A before making their moves to north London. However, Arsenal have not signed a first team player from the Bundesliga since 2018. A move for Sesko could change that. Arsenal missed out on deal for the striker months ago ahead of the Euros and his stock has continued to rise, as has his price. The last players to join the club from Germany were Benrd Leno and Sokratis seven summers ago, but the move for Sesko is more akin to Arsenal's £60million move for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang earlier that year. Aubameyang proved successful but had already established himself on the elite stage, unlike Sesko. He had netted 13, 16, 25, and then 31 Bundesliga goals in his four full seasons at Borussia Dortmund before departing with a record of 13 in 16. Aubameyang also had a Champions League record to brag about and was considerably older than Sesko, being in his mid-20s. Sesko, on the other hand, is still relatively young compared to Aubameyang. There's an eagerness to tap into his raw potential before it fully blossoms, but this approach carries its own risks. ‌ Now 22, Sesko put together another impressive scoring season in Germany and showed exactly why he has attracted interest from elsewhere. However, there are concerns about how Sesko might adjust to England. When the striker could prove pivotal to Arsenal's title hopes, there are various factors to consider. Given the success of players moving from Germany to England, it's understandable why there is caution. ‌ Havertz's move to Chelsea from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020 is a prime example. Initially, opposition players and his own manager pushed him around the pitch in search of the perfect position. Havertz eventually settled into the role of a striker. Arsenal had hopes of converting him back into an attacking No.8 from midfield, but he has been forced to cover up front instead, a job he now performs well. He bulked up, lost some of his flair, and is now a functional target man at times. He's strong in the air but lacks the finesse he initially brought with him. Sesko probably wouldn't have to make such a drastic change as he is already a striker, but there will be a period of adaptation. Both Timo Werner and Christopher Nkunku signed for Chelsea from RB Leipzig and struggled to hit the mark for various reasons. Dominik Szoboszlai has had more luck at Liverpool but plays in a deeper role. Arsenal seem determined to do something they haven't done for seven years in their attempt to purchase Sesko from the Bundesliga. Before the signing of Aubameyang, Arsenal's last transfers from Germany were Lukas Podolski in 2012 and Per Mertesacker the year before. Arsenal have a peculiar relationship with Bundesliga players, but they hope Sesko can rekindle the spark. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Scottish Sun

an hour ago

• Scottish Sun

Hotel slammed for using endangered red pandas to wake up guests by letting cuddly critters crawl into their beds

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A HOTEL in China uses endangered red pandas to wake up its guests, allowing the cuddly animals to crawl into their beds. However, the Lehe Ledu Liangjiang Holiday Hotel, situated in the remote countryside near the southwestern city of Chongqing, has been rapped by the local forestry agency due to animal welfare concerns. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Guests seem to adore having the loveable animals wake them up in the morning Credit: Douyin 5 The Lehe Ledu Liangjiang Holiday Hotel has attracted criticism from the Chinese authorities, who have raised concerns about the welfare of the red pandas 5 The hotel's use of the animals has sparked a debate on social media about the ethical use of the red pandas Credit: Douyin The hotel draws in the guests by advertising 'red panda-themed holidays' where the loveable animals are allowed into rooms as a way of waking people up. While the publicity has brought in the guests it has also attracted criticism. Clips on social media show the endangered animals sitting on beds and interacting with the guests, who appear to be delighted to have them in their rooms. The hotel has drawn the attention of local media with a Chinese magazine featuring the unusual hotel which triggered a discussion on social media about the ethical use of the animals. In turn, the publicity drew the attention of the local forestry bureau who sent a team of inspectors round to investigate. A statement issued by the bureau said it had ordered the immediate halt to all 'close contact' activities with the red pandas and added it would report back on any further findings. Brit YouTube stars Ben and Reanne Dridger, from Portsmouth, who update their fans with vlogs of their travels through China, loved their encounter with the red pandas when they visited the hotel in April. Speaking to the camera, Ben said: 'China is the only place in the world where you can have a panda delivered to your room to sit on your bed with you,' before the camera panned to Reanne who was seen hand feeding pieces of apple to the friendly animal. Reanne then remarked: 'That's so cool,' as the red panda, one of four kept by the hotel, crawled across the bed and sniffed the camera. Footage has also been posted by Chinese guests on the country's popular social media site Douyin. Moment zookeeper is pinned down by pandas who chase her down inside enclosure Hotel staff have said how long the creatures stay in a guest's room 'depended on the red panda's mood that day,' according to a report by China Newsweek. The Global Times, a communist party newspaper, though has put out a severe warning that the practice could be in breach of animal rights. The hotel has responded to concerns over the treatment of the red pandas possibly being unhygienic or dangerous to children by saying the animals were all vaccinated and children had to be accompanied by an adult. Red pandas are currently listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and estimates say there are less than 10,000 living in the wild. Despite their name they are not closely related to the larger black and white giant pandas which live in the same region of China. Red pandas are part of the extended raccoon family. Before a ban was introduced in 2018, close contact with giant pandas, including photographs with cubs, was common practice. The Liangjiang Hotel appears to have swerved prosecution due to the fact red pandas are not technically in the giant panda family. 5 The hotel has hit back at criticism saying the animals are vaccinated and all children must be supervised by an adult Credit: Douyin