TWO young girls had the skin burned from their feet as they wandered on to a freshly laid tar path at Branksome Chine.

Sophie Woodley, six, and four-year-old sister Jessica, on holiday in Poole, were rushed to hospital for emergency surgery after the incident.

Dad Robert and wife Hazel, from West Sussex, are now threatening the Borough of Poole with legal action after their beach trip ended in misery.

The family claims there was no cordon or warning signs around the path to warn of the danger.

“It was awful to see them in such agony,” said Mr Woodley, 29.

“Their feet were red raw and there was no skin left.”

Mr Woodley said a few cones had been placed to one side of the path, which was just yards from the beach, but nothing to stop anyone walking straight across it.

The young girls had to be treated at the specialist burns unit at Salisbury Hospital.

The resurfacing work was taking place in the car park and on part of the promenade following damage by heavy machinery used in the building the new rock groynes at Branksome Chine.

Dean and Dyball was carrying out the work on behalf of the council, which said it was taking the incident “very seriously”.

Clive Smith, the council’s head of leisure services, said: “Leisure services staff were on site immediately after this incident occurred.

“A full investigation will be carried out."

Kate Cusack, spokeswoman for Dean & Dyball, said the company “deeply regretted” the accident and its procedures would be reviewed.

“We are sorry for the harm caused to the children and sincerely hope they make a full and swift recovery,” she added.