Couples have been spotted taking part in sex acts at Whitburn’s Lizard Point car park since it was reopened after the winter season.

Now fears are growing the spot could become a regular haunt for the sordid “dogging” craze – which hit the headlines this week after footballer Stan Collymore was caught prowling for casual sex in a Staffordshire car park.

Peter Collins, National Trust warden for Whitburn Coastal Park, said: “This appears to be one of the places where people come for this type of thing.

“The place has been shut for a few weeks but is now open again and there was a couple there just the other day.”

Last year, a sleazy website promoted the beauty spot to other “doggers” looking to meet up with strangers.

Comments posted on the site suggest the car park is a favourite for transvestites, transsexuals and young gay men, although no reports of this type of activity have been received.

Last year, two men were arrested on suspicion of carrying out indecent acts at Ryhope Dene, on Sunderland’s coastline.

It later emerged the area had been identified as a suitable “meeting point” for men on gay chatrooms and internet web pages.

Evidence had been uncovered by police which suggests men from across the region were regularly meeting at the beauty spot to have sex.

Inspector Paul Foggin, from Sunderland West Area Command, said: “We have received no reports of anything like this since last June.”

Dogging got its name from people who walked dogs as an excuse to meet strangers for sex – watching them is called “piking”.

Mr Collins added: “People come in both on foot and in their cars.”