FOR years they have been a welcome refuge from the rain and even, occasionally, from the sweltering sun.

But the beach shelters dotted along Bournemouth’s seafront have all now been removed, after they were deemed uneconomic to maintain.

The first shelters were removed after last year’s air festival and now there are none left along Boscombe or Bournemouth promenade.

And Bournemouth council has confirmed there are no plans to bring them back – although cabinet member for tourism Cllr Rod Cooper has said it could happen if people wanted them to be returned.

Andrew Brown, seafront operations manager, said: “The shelters have increasingly become uneconomic to maintain due to their age and the fact is they have come to the end of their life.

“As a result we have been removing them as they have little architectural merit and we have no plans to return them because of the costs involved.

“However, the memorial benches remain for people to enjoy on the promenade and the Edwardian shelters on the cliff top, which are more decorative, will continue to be maintained.”

Cllr Rod Cooper, cabinet member for tourism, did not rule out their return if people put that view forward in the forthcoming seafront strategy consultation.

He said: “We’ve got the seafront strategy coming up and I’m assuming this will be an integral part of that.

“My suggestion is that we will discuss what might replace them and if they are going to be replaced.

“We are still in the early stages of the seafront strategy and everyone’s ideas are welcome.

“If people want them back then no doubt it could happen.”