HOLIDAY resort workers are seizing truckloads of beach towels a day — left by Brits overnight in a bid to reserve the best spots.
The Sun can reveal council staff in Gradac, Croatia, start collecting from 6am — flinging them into pick-ups along with sunbeds and beach bags.
Laid out towels left on the sand to bag a spot
Removal men take away the ‘beach props’ at 6am
A pick-up truck carts off the belongings
Photos show vehicles piled high with belongings sneaky tourists have laid on the sand in a bid to grab the prime locations close to the sea.
Other snaps show towels — often weighed down by stones to stop them blowing away — laid out in rows before the workers arrive.
Officials are considering fining holidaymakers, pointing out that leaving out “beach props” is forbidden.
Other spots on the country’s Makarska Riviera, including Baska, have also adopted a towel crackdown — while neighbouring Montenegro is imposing fines.
Monika Stipic, head of the Communal Department in Gradac, told The Sun towel collecting teams had been out several times this summer.
She said: “We’ll repeat such actions. It’s the only way to warn tourists they can’t make a reservation for their beach place.
“Our employees usually come at 6am and collect all they find on the beach.”
She added: “It’s also about ecology because wind often pushes equipment in the sea.
“I’m afraid for next summer because we might be forced to impose fines. Those fines do not need to be €300 (£260) like in Spain, but fines could help.”
On Facebook, the council points out: “Once again, it is forbidden to leave towels and/or any other props unattended over night. Thank you.”
Baska Borough Mayor Toni Juranic said: “We send our communal workers to remove the bathing towels or other stuff left on beaches to get a reservation for your place.
“We are not in favour of imposing fines, but we need to react if someone makes illegal reservations at public beaches.”
Clear-ups were also reported in Kolan on Pag Island.
Some towns in Montenegro have begun imposing fines.
In Tivat on the Adriatic coast a tourist may have to pay €100 (£86) for leaving a towel or beach bag on the sand.
Around 3.7 million Brits were among the record 18.9 million tourists who visited Croatia last year.
The blitz on towels comes as sunbed wars continue across the Med.
One hotel in Benalmádena in Spain had to hire a security guard to stop fights breaking out between guests as they race to grab a lounger.
In Benidorm, Brits have been seen laying out towels at 6am.
GettyGradac village on the Makarska Riviera in Croatia[/caption]