Material has been dredged from Poole Harbour and its approaches

Dredging took place over Christmas and the New Year to deepen the harbour and its approaches.

Sand will now be pumped onto beaches at Bournemouth, Swanage and Poole as part of a replenishing programme.

Daily work to spray a third of the sand on Bournemouth beach is due to start on Wednesday and will last until February.

The area between each groyne on the beach will be closed in turn to allow the work to take place.

Wreck found

A Bournemouth Borough Council spokesperson said: "Initially the beach material will look darker than that of the current beach but will gradually lighten to a normal colour with exposure to oxygen and daylight.

"Within a few weeks, the action of the wind and waves will mix the material to look more like the existing beach."

Once the material has dried the area will be reopened.

The spokesperson added that during dredging work, a wreck was found and there was a chance that material of archaeological importance could be pumped onto the beaches.

Councillor John Hayter said: "Beach replenishment takes place from time to time as beach material is lost as part of the natural erosion of the shore.

"We are working with neighbouring authorities of Poole and Purbeck in undertaking these major works to improve the standard of defence against storms, which will in turn protect the surrounding areas."