DREAMWORKS - DREAMWORKS BOSS LOSES BATTLE FOR PRIVATE BEACH

DREAMWORKS movie mogul DAVID GEFFEN has been forced to give up his exclusive Malibu beach to the Californian public - after losing his 22-year-long court battle to keep the sandy area private.

The LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS director handed in the keys to the luxurious Carbon Beach on Friday (15APR05), after a court fined him $1,000 (GBP526) for every day he banned Californians from swimming and sunbathing in front of his palatial mansion.

Geffen was supported during the dispute by his celebrity neighbours and supporters, including BOB DYLAN, STEVEN SPIELBERG, DUSTIN HOFFMAN, TOM HANKS and BARBRA STREISAND, who agreed ordinary people should not be allowed on Geffen's pristine beach.

Deputy state attorney general DANIEL OLIVAS says, "We're absolutely delighted Mr Geffen has realised it didn't make any sense to litigate any more. It's a beautiful portion of beach. I cannot wait for the public to start using this access way."