Buckets of fun as 800 hit beach; LEISURE: Sun shines on pounds 1.4m attraction.

Byline: Duncan Gibbons

HUNDREDS of sun-seekers built sandcastles and paddled in the waves at Warwickshire's very own Costa del Fillongley.

More than 800 people flocked to the pounds 1.4 million attraction at the Heart of England Events Centre, in Meriden Road, on Sunday as temperatures hit the 80s.

The huge turn-out followed our story about council plans to pull the plug on the attraction - which boasts golden sands and a lake with pedaloes - over alleged planning irregularities.

One visitor said: "I arrived with my daughter and wife and sat relaxing in the deckchairs.

"It was great to see somany toddlers building sand castles and paddling in the water with their parents. s "We then had a go on the pedaloes around the lake at pounds 2 per person for 30 minutes - what a bargain."

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Venue spokesman Nigel Ackroyd said: "The phone didn't stop ringing after we spoke to the Telegraph.

"The feedback was really good, people were generally amazed you could find this sort of thing in the middle of Warwickshire."

North Warwickshire Borough Council says the lake does have planning permission, but the current building work, or the advertised proposals, do not.

Nevertheless the beach is still due to officially open on Saturday, July 18, along with road train rides and a woodland walk, creating 25 full and part-time jobs.