Families go the whole hog with their winning sandcastle creation

AROUND 300 people took part in the Alderney Week sandcastle competition

Entrants had to produce a sand sculpture reflecting this year's theme, Two of a Kind.

Exhibits included a double-scoop ice cream, a two-seated sofa, several pairs of feet in flip-flops and the Super Mario brothers.

Best in Show – the competition's most prestigious prize – went to the Alderney Blondes, which were two blonde hedgehogs, featured nose to nose.

It was carved by several families, the Coenens, from Yorkshire, the Owens, from London, and Docherties, from Scotland.

'We were discussing the blonde hedgehogs that come in my garden,' said Cathy Owen, from London. 'We wanted to do something special for Alderney and it gave us the idea for our entry. We've never won this competition before – it's the highlight of our holiday.'

Judges called 2013 a vintage year in terms of the quality of sandcastle entered.

'Considering the wet weather the number of entries and the high standards of work have been fantastic,' said judge Hilary Bentley.