Sunbathers are having a good old-fashioned knees up – by tinkling the ivories on a beach piano.

The open air piano has been unveiled by Coast cafe on the seafront just east of Splash Point in Worthing.

Customers of all ages and musical aptitude have been queueing up to give it a go.

Stefan Sykes, the owner of the cafe and chairman of Worthing Arts Council, said: "It is such a simple idea, and it has raised loads of smiles.

"We even had a jazz pianist stop and play for half an hour."

The piano was the brainchild of local musician Andrew Walker, who was inspired by a similar scheme he had seen on streets of London's East End.

Dan Thompson, of Worthing-based culture group Revolutionary Music, reckoned it was the first beach piano in the UK.

Andrew said: "This is all about music as a social activity, and anyone - experienced or amateur – is welcome to stop, get some practice in, play some songs and enjoy the magnificent sound of Worthing's beach piano."

Two pianos were picked up for nothing from Worthing Freecycle website.

One is being held in reserve in case the salt-laden sea air damages the first, which Stefan said will be professionally tuned in the next week.

Stefan has plans to transform the Splash Point area into Worthing's cultural quarter.

He wants to turn chalets into artists' studios and open a Sunday arts and crafts market on the overhead walkway forming the southern boundary of Beach House Grounds.

There are also £500,000 plans to landscape Splash Point and turn it into a stage for outdoor music, public speaking and theatre.

However Worthing Borough Council recently scrapped a controversial £70,000 sculpture, consisting of lights on poles, called Suncloud.

Councillors have gone back to the drawing board after a test pole on the beach developed faults.