The seaside comes to town this summer

The beach is back in town this summer as Kettering By The Sea returns to the Market Place.

The giant sandpit will be bringing a taste of the traditional British seaside with a host of free activities.

Open six days a week throughout most of August, alongside the sand will be Punch and Judy shows, magic shows, giant balloon fun, skateboard workshops, theatre shows, face painting and of course the splash fountains.

Local group Groundworks will be running health and wellbeing sessions for youngsters and Kettering Library, the gallery and museum and Freedom leisure will also be running arts and craft activities and games throughout the month.

Cllr Craig Skinner, Chair of Kettering Town Council's Markets and Events Committee, said: "We are so glad we can bring back Kettering By The Sea this August. It's such an important event for so many people in the town during the summer holidays, we know how much it means to people."

The sandpit will be open six days a week, from Wednesday 2 to Saturday 26 August – and is closed on Sundays.

The event is part of Kettering Town Council's programme of activities for the year, which includes organising monthly Summer Saturday community events, KettFest, Bands In The Park, Midsummer Market, Friday Night Discos in September as well as the Christmas lights switch on in November.

Cllr Skinner added: "We are working hard this year on an ambitious programme of events to showcase Kettering and bring people into the town. Kettering is a place we want everyone to feel proud of and enjoy spending time in."