BEACHGOERS in Purbeck were left stunned this weekend after seeing what appeared to be a man with his head buried in the sand.

The man was actually a dummy named 'Ernest', an installation by the environment group Extinction Rebellion.

They say it was put at Swanage and Studland's beaches to remind people of the "urgency of climate breakdown".

Ernest, who first appeared on Weymouth beach last week, is accompanied with a sign which reads: "This is a climate crisis. Don’t bury your head in the sand. Act now.”

Hundreds of people throughout the weekend read the placard, took photos, and started conversations around the installation, say Extinction Rebellion.

Dean Storer, of Extinction Rebellion Purbeck, said “Everybody I have spoken to about this installation has been very supportive.

"Local people understand the environmental threats to our coastline and community and many holiday makers are already involved with Extinction Rebellion in their own towns and cities.

"I think we are reaching a critical mass of people who understand that radical change is crucial if we are to limit climate catastrophe and provide a decent future for our children”

Extinction Rebellion Purbeck also thanked local lifeguards and National Trust staff for their support over the weekend.

The Extinction Rebellion group is demanding governments must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to new zero by 2025.

They are also demanding governments "tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency".

A group spokesman said: "We are facing an unprecedented global emergency.

"Life on Earth is in crisis – scientists agree we have entered a period of abrupt climate breakdown, and we are in the midst of a mass extinction of our own making."