For decades nudists have used Fraisthorpe beach to get an all-over tan –but more recently "dogging" websites have promoted it as a place where strangers meet to have sex.

Councillors have been discussing the problem with the police and in the run-up to Easter are sending out the message that naturists will no longer be tolerated.

More signs will go up and a warning is also being put on the East Riding Council's website to get the message across.

East Riding councillor Jane Evison said: " I called the first meeting between the council officers and police at the end of last year as a result of complaints I was receiving about the totally unacceptable behaviour of some people visiting the beautifully unspoilt beach at Fraisthorpe.

"I am afraid regardless of the fact that the true naturists are, I am sure, quite genuine in their beliefs, they do attract a more unsavoury type of activity and it just cannot be tolerated in the East Riding."

Complaints about nudists using the beach date back many years. But those who regularly use it say the real problem is a small number of exhibitionist men, pretending to be nudists, who lie in wait for unaccompanied women.

One woman has told how she was often confronted by single nude males when she was out walking her dogs. She added: "Why should a woman feel she can't go on a beach without being scared?"

Beach-goer Max Pratt, of Fraisthorpe United Naturists, who has been visiting the beach since he was a child, said he would immediately report any voyeurs to the police.

However, he added: "It is perfectly legal to practise naturism on Fraisthorpe sands. For the police to try and clamp down on people who are not harassing, not threatening other people is unacceptable."

The beach, three miles south of Bridlington, was a recognised nudist area until the former East Yorkshire Borough Council decided to remove the designation.

Sgt Dave Jenkins, of Humberside Police, said: "We will be providing patrols along the beach and also responding to incidents reported."