Borough celebrates 50 years with pop-up beach

It took 20 volunteers to move the sand into the giant sandpit

A pop-up beach has been installed in a shopping centre to mark a borough's Golden Anniversary.

Fareham in Hampshire was first made a borough on 9 April 1974, encompassing Portchester, Hill Head, Sarisbury, Stubbington, Titchfield and Warsash.

Consisting of 10 tonnes of sand, the family-friendly feature will be in Fareham Shopping Centre until 16 September.

Other council-run events throughout the year will have a "golden" theme to celebrate the milestone.

Since becoming a borough, Fareham has had 48 mayors

The sand will be regularly topped-up and kept clean across the summer, according to construction engineering company, Mountjoy.

Connie Hockley, the council's executive member for leisure and community said she was proud to mark the birthday.

"It is all indoors so families can escape the rain and children can play for free," she added.

The authority is also asking residents to submit pictures taken in Fareham across the last 50 years, for a historical website gallery to celebrate the anniversary.