EXPERT sand sculpture artists were drafted into Keighley’s own town centre beach to inspire and entertain youngsters and their families.

The pair from Bradford-based group Sand in your Eye were in action at the indoor beach in the Airedale Shopping Centre today.

The beach and the artists’ visit is funded by the Keighley Business Improvement District (BID) scheme.

Hannah McIntyre, of Keighley BID, said: “The Sand in Your Eye artists have been doing modelling workshops with the children, showing them how to make sculptures of things like dolphins and castles using just their hands, water and the sand.

“It’s gone really well and we’ve had extremely positive feedback. We’ve had a lot of people coming along, considering it isn’t the weekend.”

Shopping centre manager Steve Seymour said: “We have had a fantastic response from customers. We’ve had visitors from Leeds and the surrounding areas, and families have been returning and spending hours here sitting on the beach.”

The Keighley By the Sea attraction, which involves 16 tonnes of sand, is being watered daily to ensure it does not get too dry.

It will remain in place until August 28.

Ms McIntyre said vintage buses from Keighley Bus Museum were out and about last Friday as part of the Keighley BID funded activities. These vehicles gave people tours of the town centre.