LIFE's a beach for a Winchester group of artists, The Colour Factory.

They have turned the back garden of their studios in Gordon Road into the seaside, complete with ten tonnes of sand, shells, a lighthouse and assorted jetsam.

Today they are inviting their community to come on in and play with children invited to take part in free art workshops linked to the Hat Fair street theatre festival. They can create sand sculptures, make shoals of fish, mermaids or flags or help to decorate a storytelling shack The day, open from noon-4pm, is a taster for a week of workshops for kids from August 7 to 12.

One of the artists, Jenny Muncaster, said: "It looks amazing."

Pictured are Lindsey Mann, Linda Miller and Jenny Muncaster are shown with garden designer Chris Prior in their creation