GALE force winds caused chaos on Bournemouth seafront over the weekend as cars became stuck in sand drifts.

Piles of sand were whipped on to the promenade and the roads around the seafront by gusts exceeding 50mph.

Problems were particularly bad at Boscombe Pier where cars had to get pushed out of drifts on the roundabout.

Police even closed the promenade at Boscombe to traffic on Sunday due to the blizzard of sand. Photographer Chris Skone-Roberts said: “There was so much sand on the road and prom it was like driving on the beach.

“I’ve not seen it that bad for years.”

A red Vauxhall Corsa even ended up on the beach after zooming forward off the promenade on Sunday.

Marine finisher, Lawrence Banfield, 37, said the Corsa narrowly avoided his two young children, Lexi and Calum, playing on the beach.

Mr Banfield of Jubilee Crescent, Ensbury Park, said: “The car shot across the pavement and jumped off the little cliff.

“It was pretty scary. Luckily it missed the kids.

“I jumped out of the way but it would have been too late. The kids were absolutely oblivious to it all.”

A Dorset Police spokesperson confirmed that they had attended the scene and helped the driver to recover his vehicle.

Cyclist Tom Sherington battled into the powerful seafront winds on his bike on Saturday afternoon.

When asked what had compelled him to make his torturous journey, he replied: “Being able to watch the rugby!”

• A KITE surfer was helped ashore after getting into difficulties off Highcliffe on Saturday.

Southbourne coastguards and Mudeford lifeboat was scrambled to the drama at around 12.38pm.

When they arrived the man aged in his early twenties and from Mudeford, had already been helped ashore by a passing windsurfer.

His equipment was gathered up by the lifeboat to avoid it endangering other vessels.