The summer fun starts here

NOTTINGHAM BEACH IS OFFICIALLY OPEN

- By LYNETTE PINCHESS

IT'S time for sand, “sea” and summer fun with the return of Nottingham Beach.

Old Market Square has once again been transformed into a seaside attraction with entertainment for all the family - and on yesterday's opening day everyone was loving it, from toddlers to 80 year-olds.

As soon as the official ribbon-cutting was done and dusted, kids raced on to the sandy beach and into the paddling pool, while parents and grandparents took a seat in the deckchairs.

Mum-of-one Jess Barnes, of Eastwood, praised the attraction and is already planning to return next week with her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Lydia.

She said: “We came two years ago but she was a bit young. We love it.

“She's been on two rides, the train and the cars, and we've done hook-a-duck and she got a prize.

It’s close. It took us a 50-minute drive to get here and we're on the sand. It's a two-and-a-half-hour drive to get to a beach. It’s amazing.”

One of the biggest criticisms of the annual beach is always the price of food, drink and rides but Jess said:

“We are not paying for an entry and everything else it’s what you'd pay at Skegness. We'll be coming back next week. We might avoid weekends as it can be a bit busy.”