About 40,000 visited a town's tribute to the history of the great British seaside holiday.

The Sands Of Time festival at Bognor included Punch and Judy shows and a sandcastle building competition which attracted more than 70 entrants.

Part of the seafront was closed off for a classic car show and the Royal Norfolk Hotel played host to an exhibition showing the role the seaside has played in tourism over the years.

The event also included donkey rides along the promenade but many families ignored a controversial order imposed on the event by Arun District Council for children to wear hard hats.

Organiser Paul Wells, of the Bognor History Project, said: "Hats were available but the final choice was down to parents."

Mr Wells said the attendance figures during the weekend were the best ever for the festival which has been running for four years.

He added: "The seafront was absolutely heaving for most of the weekend. Sands of Time is now firmly established in the events calendar at Bognor."