ANCIENT Greece has been brought to life by the best sand sculptors in the world at one Weymouth attraction.

Visitors can marvel at the magnificent Sandworld exhibition themed in tribute to the arrival of the Olympic Sailing events to Weymouth and Portland.

The attraction, based at Lodmoor Country Park, is filled with sculptures made entirely from sand and water.

Beach-goers will notice the quality of the sand, one of Weymouth’s most iconic natural assets and among the finest grains in the world.

This year sculptures include a centre stage depiction of the labours of Hercules, a scene portraying Icarus with his wings of feathers, Medusa with snakes for hair and a modern interpretation of Discobulus.

Sand sculpting master Mark Anderson set up Sandworld with business partner and fellow carver David Hicks.

Mark has been working on his own Jason and the Argonauts sculpture and can be viewed as a work in progress. Mark said: “Visitors can get up close to the huge sculptures and acknowledge the fine detail.

“We also have an area where people can have a go themselves with the help of instructors and use their imagination to make what they like.”

Depending on the design, which can range from two to five metres high, a sand sculpture can take up to a month to complete.

The Sandworld exhibition is showcased within huge weather marquees so the attraction is not weather dependent.

Mark has been sculpting from sand since the age of 11, continuing more than 90 years of tradition set by his grandfather Fred Darrington.

He said: “My granddad had been sand sculpting in Weymouth from the mid-20s and I started helping him in 1976 as a summer job while I was at school.”

Sandworld is open daily from 10.30am. Entry for adults costs £6.50, senior citizens and students £4.50, children £4.50 and children under 5 can enter for free. For more information visit sandworld.co.uk or call 07411387529.