LIFE will soon be a beach for Dudley Zoo visitors as bosses plan to bring the fun of the seaside to the landlocked location.

Ow Bin Ya Sands is set to open in time for the May half term holiday next week, complete with heaps of buckets and spades, two giant deckchairs, three seaside photo peep boards and plenty of picnic tables.

The zoo’s sensory garden at the top of the site is currently being transformed into a beach play area, which will stay in place for the whole summer.

A total of 80 tonnes of sand is being piled into a large wooden frame so youngsters can make play and make sandcastles.

Beach signs, designed by the zoo's in-house graphic designer Rachel Lane, have just gone up and the whole project will be completed in time for May 26.

The zoo’s marketing manager, Andrea Hales, said: “Ow Bin Ya Sands is in a super spot, in the shadows of Dudley Castle and overlooking the town.

“It will give our visitors something fun and different to enjoy throughout the summer and hopefully put us all in that wonderful holiday mood.”