Butlins is offering classes to parents on how to build the perfect sandcastle at its Bognor resort - even though the beach there is made of shingle.

The tuition is accompanied by a guide which recommends sandcastle builders go for damp sand, a dry bucket and plenty of patting down.

It was developed by sand sculptor Mark Anderson who later this month will be bringing examples of his work to Bognor.

His tips for the perfect sandcastle are: Damp sand - Scrape the dry top layer of sand away to get to the wetter layer underneath; Dry bucket - The best way to get a completely dry bucket is to put dry sand into your bucket, swirl it around and tip it out again; Layer and pat - Add the damp sand to the bucket. The trick is to add it layer by layer making sure you pat it down each time before adding the next; Tap side - Turn your bucket completely over on a flat spot. Tap the bucket on the side, not the top; Centre flag - Place a flag in the centre of your castle and not near the edge, otherwise you risk cracking the sand.

Butlins entertainment head Mike Godolphin said: "Turning out a string of perfect sandcastles is simply one of the best things a parent can do for his or her toddler."