THE seaside came to Darlington yesterday with the arrival of 15 tonnes of sand.

The Market Square was transformed into a seaside resort complete with pirates, a giant whale and a mermaid as part of a council-run initiative called Darlington by the Sea.

Youngsters had the opportunity to play with buckets and spades on the beach and a sand sculptor also made a visit to create displays.

Darlington By the Sea rock was also available to buy and a traditional Punch and Judy show kept children entertained. During the evening a steel band played in the Market Square as visitors enjoyed a barbecue.