The National Trust has been accused of turning a picturesque beach in Dorset into a 'horrific eyesore' after its decision to remove sea defences exposed an old rubbish tip.

Engineers removed the structures at Middle Beach in Studland last September to 'allow nature to take its course'.

The beach was beloved by Enid Blyton and Studland was the inspiration for Toytown in Noddy.

The controversial decision by the conservation body was part of a 'managed retreat' policy which aimed to allow water to reclaim the land. 

However the move has accelerated coastal erosion and exposed a rubbish dump buried in the sandy bank behind the beach.

As a result, tons of rubbish has been washed onto the sand, including lethal asbestos sheeting which could pose an environmental health risk. 

The erosion also unearthed a Victorian toilet block which was filled to the brim with decades worth of dumped plastic, glass and rusty metal.

National Trust volunteers are now undertaking daily clean-up operations to try and handle the amount of waste. 

The picturesque Middle Beach in Studland, Dorset, pictured before the changes with its sea defences

After the National Trust removed sea defences the water eroded the beach uncovering an old rubbish tip

Workers pictured at the beach removing the sea defences to allow nature to 'take its course'

In 2023 the Trust demolished Britain's oldest beach cafe on top of the small cliff despite overwhelming opposition against the move.

Although the building was 60ft back from the edge, the organisation claimed it was at risk of falling into the sea and so had to be razed to the ground.

Nick Boulter, chairman of Studland Parish Council, said: 'It's horrible. All that waste which has been dumped into the sandy bank for the past 50 to 100 years is coming out of the cliff, creating an eyesore.

'I've heard that the poor National Trust volunteers are down there every day filling 10 bags of plastic waste.

'For £100,000 to £200,000, we told them they could have replaced the gabions.

'We warned them that if they didn't, then this rubbish would reappear.

'Now, when you go down to the beach there are warning signs saying it is "dangerous".

'The worrying thing is we've not had any bad storms yet so it could get much worse.'

Tons of rubbish has been washed onto the beach including lethal asbestos sheeting which could pose an environmental health risk

The policy has accelerated coastal erosion and exposed an old rubbish dump buried in the sandy bank

Andrew Parsons, a local resident and a civil engineer, said: 'It is absolutely appalling. I don't know what their agenda is. It's not what they are supposed to be doing.