Spain becomes latest European country to fine tourists for leaving towels on beach

Spain is the latest European country to crack down on sneaky holidaymakers who reserve plum positions on the beach with towels and umbrellas.

Hot on the heels of Italy, who announced a similar scheme earlier this month, Spain has gone a step further with fines of up to $1,055 – more than three-times greater than those on Italian beaches.

Officials are fed up with tourists leaving beach paraphernalia on the best sunbeds and sandy spots very early in the morning, only to return much later in the day.

Gandia is just one of many small Spanish coastal towns to bring in the new rules, with local police set to remove items and issue the fines.