A coastal community in Dorset has erupted in protest after their local council scrapped a pair of much-loved diving platforms for "health and safety" reasons.
The platforms had been anchored off Weymouth beach since 1939, but were taken away at the start of the summer holidays by Weymouth Town Council.
The decision has sparked fierce opposition from local swimmers, with members of the Weymouth Bluetits swimming club taking to the water in protest.
A petition demanding the platforms be restored, meanwhile, has gathered almost 4,000 signatures.
Jade O'Brien, who started it, argued that serious incidents had been uncommon - and Greenhill Beach had "consistently maintained a strong safety record".
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|The platforms had been anchored off Weymouth beach since 1939 until their removal
She questioned why the rafts had to be removed, given they provided "safe recreation and cherished experiences for generations" for decades without issue.
However, the council has justified its actions by pointing to RNLI guidance which said the platforms made it hard for beach lifeguards to see the water.
It claimed the guidance had led their insurance provider to demand a minimum coverage of £30million for any potential claims related to the rafts.
"The safety of residents and visitors must come first," a council spokesman vowed.
"This means that we have no option but to remove our swim rafts in the sea at Greenhill."
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|PICTURED: Swimmers at Weymouth beach. Tim Spooner, a local resident, described the platforms as 'a much-loved feature' in the area
The council added that the platforms fell outside the lifeguards' designated monitoring zone, creating potential hazards for swimmers.
Local divers have condemned the move as excessive and unnecessary.
Christine James of the Bluetits blasted how the platforms had existed for "decades without the need for insurance" - and questioned why the council couldn't simply warning swimmers about using them at their own risk.
"They were something that was fun for everyone and helped keep people fit," she said, warning that removing them might push children towards more dangerous activities like "jumping off the harbour wall or the rock groynes, which is unsafe."
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|PICTURED: Three beach-goers relax by the shore in Weymouth
Tim Spooner, a local resident, described the platforms as "a much-loved feature of the beach" and branded the council's response "an overreaction."
The RNLI has distanced itself from the controversy, clarifying that the platforms had "always" been positioned beyond their lifeguards' operational zone, which extends to 300 metres from shore between red and yellow flags.
An RNLI spokesman confirmed that "nothing has changed from previous years in terms of our operating procedures or areas of responsibility".