A seven-year-old is riding a wave of success with her design of a 50-tonne sand sculpture.

Since the opening of the Brighton Sand Sculpture Festival in April, children from all over the county and beyond have been submitting artwork for its Design a Sculpture competition.

Katie Barker from Brighton, was awarded the top prize ahead of hundreds of hopefuls for her design Under the Sea – Great Barrier Reef – and sculptors have been busy bringing her idea to life.

Natasha Mikelic, project manager of the festival, said: “It was almost impossible to pick a winner, the standard was very high. “I think Brighton has some budding artists.”

CBBC’s Deadly Art presenter and World Champion sand sculptor Nicola Wood revealed Katie’s sculpture and presented her with a prize yesterday.

Ayla Hoole, 10, and Lucy Rodgers, 11, were selected in second and third place. The festival is now open daily until September 28 at Black Rock at the end of Madeira Drive, Brighton.