Beach lovers in west Suffolk have enjoyed a day on the sand without having to journey to the coast.

Visitors to the Bury St Edmunds Whitsun Fayre got a chance to relax in deckchairs, build sandcastles and enjoy a stick of seaside rock at an impromptu beach set up in The Traverse.

Money raised from the sale of rock, supplied by OurBuryStEdmunds, will go to the charity Walking with the Wounded.

OurBuryStEdmunds, which delivers the Business Improvement District (BID), is at the forefront of many of the town centre’s free events and the Whitsun Fayre is no exception.

The group’s chief executive, Mark Cordell said the changeable weather had failed to deter visitors to the first day of the event, which also continues today.

He added: “Today has been extremely busy and all of the businesses here have been very happy with the extra customers who have come in to the town as a result.”

Apart from the “Costa del Bury”, the mini farm at the top of Abbeygate Street proved as popular as ever. Youngsters had a chance to get up close to farm animals such as goats, rabbits and pigs.

Live science experiments in the Arc shopping centre also proved a hit with young visitors.

Other attractions included a farmers’ market on Angel Hill and a charity arts and crafts market in Cornhill Walk Shopping Centre.