KNARESBOROUGH, which is 70 miles from the sea, has created its own beach to make sure residents don’t miss out on summer at the seaside.

Henshaws Arts and Crafts Centre in the town, which provides training for people with disabilities, has transformed a walled garden with 40 tonnes of sand, a giant palm tree, and a beach shop as part of a Festival of Entertainment and Visual Arts.

The event will run from August 8 to 18. The aim was to create an urban beach to encourage local people to visit the centre. Entry is free and there’s a chance to pull up a deckchair and take part in family friendly fun.

Arts and Crafts centre manager, Maria Dawbarn said: “We’re very excited as the beach is a great chance to welcome visitors in and to showcase the wonderful work that we do here at the Arts and Crafts Centre. We really want people to see this as a place for the local community, somewhere you can come to relax and enjoy the activities whenever you want.”

Activities include clay modelling, face painting, art sessions and sand sculpture. There are also fitness sessions on the sand, traditional beach entertainment with Punch and Judy and donkey rides, and programme of evening entertainment with live music.

Go to henshaws.org.uk/events/1008/feva-festival/