The ‘governor’ of the north’s Famagusta district Ozden Keser has denied that a stretch of beach in the region has been closed to the public.

He spoke after reports surfaced among sections of Turkish Cypriot media that a stretch of beach between the popular Glapsides and Silver beaches had been closed by the Turkish military.

The beach is home to a former student dormitory which has now been converted to house soldiers.

It was alleged that a three-kilometre stretch of beach has been closed, with some even claiming that barbed wire has been lain to stop people from accessing it.

“According to the information I have received, the coastline is open to civilian use. It is only forbidden to take photographs or ride quadbikes,” Keser said.

He said that the reason the area had been closed to quadbikes is that “quadbikes passing through the beach may endanger the safety of military personnel using it”.