Staycationers have camped out overnight in the cold and rain in a rush to book a beach hut for the summer. 

With just 12 cabins available at Avon Beach in Christchurch, Dorset, people went to extreme lengths to make sure they got a booking for either the summer holidays or all-year rental.

Staff arrived at the beach shop at 7.30am on Sunday to find people already braving the elements, though they were not available to book until 8am on Monday, more than 24 hours later.

The queue grew through the day, with dozens camping out overnight and about 50 people waiting by the time the administration office opened on Sunday morning.

The huts, which mostly measure 6ft by 4ft, cost £3,570 to rent for the year and are typically booked up within minutes of opening.

Avon Beach has 130 huts lining the quiet sandy beach, which is popular with dog walkers, tourists and watersport enthusiasts.