KIDDERMINSTER people need not travel hundreds of miles to the beach this weekend - the beach is coming to them.

Wyre Forest District Council has organised the Kidderminster-on-Sea event that will see the town centre transformed on Saturday and a host of activities in Brinton Park on Sunday. Bianca Southall prepares for this weekend's Kidderminster-on-Sea event.

Between 10.30am and 4.30pm on Saturday town centre shoppers will be able to enjoy a giant sandpit, live music, Punch and Judy show, donkey rides, arts workshops, giant pirate and a mermaid mime artist.

Traders on the indoor market are also determined to be in on the fun and will be handing out free balloons and rock to customers.

And the fun continues the following day from midday when children will be able to jump aboard the "Sea-side Special" train in Brinton Park, where there will also be a bouncy castle, fun fair and more live music.

On both days people are invited to bring a bag to take home some of the 11-and-a-half tonnes of washed sand being brought in for the weekend as a souvenir.

Council leisure services officer Sue Harper said she hoped to make Kidderminster-on-Sea an annual event if it is a success.