A group of tourists visiting Italy were forced to pay extra on their restaurant bill after music tax was added to it.

The holidaymakers were enjoying an evening out in Ostuni, southern Italy, when they were told they had to pay two euros - equivalent of £1.70 - each for background music at the bar they were visiting.

The surprise cost was added to their bill alongside snacks and cocktails, upping the group-of-four's total by eight euros overall.

According to the group of holidaymakers, a DJ on the decks was providing some background music for diners at the bar.

However, the tourists were not expecting to be responsible for funding the entertainment.

On their receipt - just above a mojito and negroni - it read "musica - 4x 2,00 (€)".

"The music was very good, but no one expected to be charged for the background music," the tourists told The Sun.

The group claimed they were not told about the rule before getting the receipt.

The group were charged for background music at the bar (file photo)

The music tax row comes as British tourists travelling to Spain have been warned of what has been dubbed "sunbed tax".

Tourists caught reserving sunbeds at certain spots in the country could now fined €250 (around £216), according to travel insurer Tiger.

The rule has been enforced across Barcelona and Costa Blanca.

The travel insurer said the order was introduced following "numerous" complaints about sunbeds being reserved for hours with no one in sight.

Britons travelling to Spain have been warned of 'sunbed tax'

Meanwhile, in Italy, wearing swimwear outside of beaches and pools has been banned.

Tourists who break this rule at popular spots including the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento face fines of up to €500 (about £432).