The Pearsons relax at the resort but found other holidaymakers pre-occupied with claiming poolside seating (Picture: Nicki Pearson)

A couple who work as therapists were aghast to find holidaymakers in their Balearic resort waking at dawn to reserve sunbeds around a pool less than 50 metres from an idyllic beach.

Russ and Nicki Pearson say tourists need to learn to ‘de-stress’ after they witnessed the ‘ridiculous’ behaviour at the Globales Lord Nelson in Santo Tomas on Menorca’s south coast.

Several Tripadvisor reviews, including one fuming at ‘pathetically selfish sunbed blocking’ at the four-star hotel, show that they are not alone in taking issue with the towel throwdowns.

The Globales Lord Nelson replied by apologising for the ‘uncivic behaviour of some customers’ and said it is ‘working to resolve this issue without creating personal conflicts’.

Nicki, 58, a Kinetic Chain Release therapist from Fife, said: ‘It was quite funny to see people going down to put towels on sunbeds at 6am and manouvering the sunbeds together and dragging the parasols over.

‘We are talking about grown men doing this. It’s ridiculous.

The Pearsons found that the poolside towel throwdown began early at their hotel in Menorca (Picture: Russ and Nicki Pearson)

‘The Germans always used to have the reputation for putting towels down, but now us Brits are among the nationalities doing it.

‘It was like a Benny Hill sketch and it all went on despite the fact there are signs up telling people not to reserve sunbeds.’

The couple, who were on holiday at the resort for two weeks returning on July 1, echoed Tripadvisor reviews complaining about people reserving prime spaces around the pool.

One post lamenting ‘selfish sunbed blocking’ reads: ‘Despite signs everywhere about not reserving sunbeds and umbrellas there were towels on virtually every bed by 7am (I got up earlier than I usually do to confirm this). The beds then remain empty and “reserved” until well beyond 9am.’

The Pearsons raise a glass without a sunbed in sight (Picture: Niki Pearson)

Nicki, who has a background as a carer, said: ‘With the stress people are putting themselves under to get up at 6am reserve sunbeds, they are not switching off.

‘The sea is only a 30-second walk away over a promenade, but even when we were out having a swim before breakfast people were out putting towels on sunbeds on the beach.

‘When are they getting time to reboot and de-stress?

‘Other guests were also forever on their phones and you see people sitting with jiggly legs. While you can be tongue-in-cheek about it, I’m sure there is a cumulative effect for people who just can’t switch off.’

In its reply to the post on Tripadvisor, the hotel said: ‘We are sorry that the uncivic behaviour of some customers bothered you.

‘We are working to resolve this issue without creating personal conflicts that could lead to a bigger problem, and we have also bought more hammocks.’

Sunbed wars have become a perennial problem at overseas resorts popular with British tourists, with videos of dashes at other resorts where the poolside areas are unlocked early in the morning.

One example of the early-morning scrambles was caught last summer in Tenerife when guests of all ages were caught on camera bursting onto the poolside to reserve prime reclining space.

The resort in Migjorn Gran has a four-star rating on Tripadvisor, with another reviewer saying: ‘There is an issue with sunbeds but not the hotel’s fault just selfish guests.’

Metro.co.uk has approached the hotel for further comment.

MORE : Couple get sweet revenge on sun lounger hoggers who turned up after nine hours

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Russ and Nicki Pearson found holidaymakers staking out the best poolside spots at 6am.