Sand will be dredged from Poole Harbour channels and approaches and transported by dredger to stretches of beach in Poole, Bournemouth and Swanage.

The work, beginning this month, will be completed by next Easter.

The scheme is funded by Poole Harbour Commissioners and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Poole Borough Council said.

'Pumping process'

Councillor Don Collier, cabinet portfolio holder for the environment, said: "Not only will the project result in sea walls being protected, it also means our award winning beaches are maintained in the most cost effective way."

Due to the shallow water in Poole Bay, the dredger will pump the sand through a long pipe onto the beach.

The sand will then be spread and levelled by bulldozers.

During the work the beach will be open to the public but as a safety precaution people will be stopped using short sections of it when the sand is being pumped from the dredgers and the heavy plant is moving around, a local authority spokesman said.

The promenades will also remain open while the pumping process is going on at Poole and Bournemouth, but may be closed at Swanage, as a result of the groyne works.

Initially the new sand will look darker than that of the current beach, but will lighten to a normal colour with exposure to oxygen and daylight, a council spokesman added.