Ukrainian war: Peace message carved in sand in Weymouth

Slava Borecki's sculpture depicts the Russian invasion of Ukraine

A Ukrainian artist has created a sand sculpture with an anti-war message at a Dorset visitor attraction.

Slava Borecki carved his 5m (16ft) x 12m (40ft) sculpture, A Message of Peace, as part of the annual SandWorld festival in Weymouth.

It depicts the Russian invasion of Ukraine with a teddy bear crushed by a tank and a young girl hiding behind a wall.

Mr Borecki said it was a "plea for peace".

He added: "Both sides will lose no matter what - due to the deaths and devastation caused by this war and all others before it."

The work was created over 10 days using 150 tonnes of sand.

The sculpture is created entirely from 150 tonnes of sand

Co-founder of SandWorld, Mark Anderson, who first met Mr Borecki in 1998 during a sand sculpture festival in Moscow, said it was "quite an immense piece".

"It's probably the most powerful piece we've ever had - it comes straight from his heart," he added.

"I don't think you can get any more meaningful - it's amazing."

Although Mr Borecki currently lives in Poznan, Poland, his hometown, which is 62 miles (100km) from Kyiv, has been bombed by Russian forces and schools, military bases and roads have been destroyed.

Following the invasion, he opened his Polish home to 19 Ukrainian refugees.

The festival is also raising money for aid agencies working in Ukraine.

This is Slava Borecki's third visit to the Dorset sand sculpting event

The work is on display as part of the Weymouth SandWorld Festival