A combination of warmer summer weather and a coastal protection project has led to soaring visitor numbers on the Dorset coast. The number of people visiting Lyme Regis’ tourist office in July was up by nearly 1,000, attributed in part to West Dorset District Council’s £17M project to protect the foreshore from erosion. The introduction of 35,000t of French sand and 75,000t of shingle by contractor Mowlem Construction to protect the coastline has created a new, improved beach that has been a hit with visitors (pictured, shortly before the beach reopened).