THE Isle of Wight Council has signed up to a smartphone app, providing beachgoers with real-time updates and information on which areas are most crowded.

The free Beach Check UK app — available for Apple or Android devices — shows real-time information for Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor.

The council says there are also plans to extend the coverage to other Island beaches.

With Covid still circulating in the community, the app allows visitors to choose less populated zones or beaches with lesser crowding.

Its maps can also pinpoint public toilets, parking spaces, and even pubs, restaurants and places of interest. 

The local authority worked closely with the app's developers, National Coastal Tourism Academy, to ensure some of the Island's most popular resorts were featured in the latest edition.

Working on a traffic light system, the app aims to reduce overcrowding at popular coastal areas and encourage distancing.

For more information, visit www.englandscoast.com