MAX Mason, owner of The Big Bang restaurant at Oxford Castle, was sitting pretty at the beach over the weekend, after stepping out of his front door.

The 38 tonnes of sand needed to create the Oxford Beach for the second year running arrived at the end of last week.

The beach, paid for by businesses at the castle, attracted about 150 visitors a day last summer and will be open this year from Thursday until September 1, kitted out with palm trees and deckchairs.

Mr Mason, 38, said: “It was hugely successful last year.

“Oxford is further from the sea than anywhere in the country, so it seemed like a sensible thing to do, to save people a two-hour drive to the coast.”

It will be open from 9am to 10pm every day.

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