Beach to close to host Motocross race circuit

A makeshift course will be carved out of Weymouth's golden sands

A stretch of beach at a seaside resort is set to close for the weekend as its golden sands become a motocross race course.

The Weymouth Beach Motocross will see about a mile-long stretch of the resort's beach off the Esplanade turned into a circuit with a series of ramps.

The annual event will see the course built on Saturday by diggers before riders try a dry run about 15:00 BST. The racing, with about 300 riders, takes place on Sunday from 11:00.

The beach will be cordoned off from the Pavilion steps to the Jubilee Clock from 08:00 Saturday until 20:00 Sunday.

Temporary closures will be in place while the motocross course is in place on the beach

The race sees riders from junior, senior and expert levels compete.

The free annual event, run by the Purbeck Motocross Club, attracts thousands of spectators.

It has been held almost continuously since 1984 and raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for local charities through raffles and collections.