GREY skies and heavy rain failed to dampen the competitive spirit at the Master of the Sands sculpture competition in Yarmouth yesterday.Buckets, spades and lots of imagination were all that was needed to create the sand sculptures on the resort's central beach, with competitors battling for the chance to win a holiday at a Haven park.

GREY skies and heavy rain failed to dampen the competitive spirit at the Master of the Sands sculpture competition in Yarmouth yesterday.

Buckets, spades and lots of imagination were all that was needed to create the sand sculptures on the resort's central beach, with competitors battling for the chance to win a holiday at a Haven park.

Families spent hours building their structures and after some tough deliberation, judges chose a car and an ice cream as among the best.

Award-winning sand sculptor Simon Smith, from Jersey, created his own giant sand castle on the beach on Saturday and taught workshops on Sunday to tell visitors more about sculpting with sand.

Donna Bidwell, the town's tourism events manager, said that 23 sculptures were made during the day.

She said: “Unfortunately the weather has been horrible - cold and lots of rain. Everyone has enjoyed themselves anyway and the sculptures were great - one family made a seahorse and sea creatures and even used food colouring to colour the sand for it.”