Germans surrender in battle of the deckchairs as Russians get there first

Germany has finally been beaten in the battle of the deckchairs after decades of beachfront dominance.

But it's not the Britons who have won the war of the loungers - it's the Russians.

New sun worshippers with new money from the former Soviet Union and its satellite states are being dubbed the “new Germans” for their behaviour on the beaches.

Frustrated Britons joked that their super-efficient continental rivals must have got up half an hour before they went to bed to place their beach towels on the seats so early.

But with the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the rise of the rich Russian, not only the chief competitors but also the rules of the game have changed.

Russians are not early risers – but they have a ruse of their own, using cold, hard cash to get their own way.