Beachgoers will see their personal items removed from sunbeds if they haven’t rented them, the municipality of Paralimni and Dherynia said on Monday, in an effort to stop people from claiming the beds the night before by placing towels on them and turning up later the next day to soak up the sun.

The municipality said it would be taking “drastic measures” to stop the phenomenon.

People are requested “to immediately rent their set of umbrella and sunbeds on arrival at the beach and keep the receipt, otherwise, if the municipality staff determines that the towels or other personal items have been placed there as a reservation, they will be removed.”

“Bathers should respect the beaches and the property of the Paralimni-Dherynia municipality” and follow the rules displayed at the beaches.

People are called upon to pay for sunbeds and umbrellas by credit card and avoid cash transactions.