Tourism Director Gary Phillips was speaking after Florida launched a desperate search for sand to cover up its balding beaches.

But Mr. Phillips said Florida would have to take its bucket and spade elsewhere to restock its coastline.

He said: "I'm sorry to hear Florida is having problems with its sand.

"But I'm afraid if people want to enjoy Bermudian sand, they'll just have to get on a plane and come here to do it.'' The knock-back came after Florida declared a major crisis and went seeking 0.5 million cubic yards of sand to fill in the gaps on beaches.

The Florida beaches -- including the famous Miami Beach -- are eroding fast and 800 miles of coastline now needs new sand.

The Florida state authorities have already been knocked back by tourism rivals the Bahamas.

Now state officials are talking to the Turks and Caicos Islands, like Bermuda, a British dependent territory.

But Florida scientists fear that Turks and Caicos sand may not be an exact match for the state's coarse coral sand and could turn off nesting sea turtles.

Bermuda's sand, however, has a high coral content, which gives its beaches the legendary pink `blush'.

But Mr. Phillips said: "The question of giving or selling sand is secondary to whether or not we should be removing any sand from our beaches.

"This is our natural asset and our natural heritage and there is no reason why we should strip Bermuda of that.

"And I suspect every right-thinking Bermudian would agree with me.'' Tourism Minister David Dodwell was yesterday off the Island and not available for comment.

But Mr. Phillips was backed by Works and Engineering Minister Leonard Gibbons, whose Ministry is responsible for beach maintenance.

He said Florida officials had not approached Bermuda for sand -- and would not get any if they did.

He added: "After Hurricane Felix in 1995, we were looking for sand ourselves.

"I wouldn't think Bermuda would be interested in selling sand to anyone -- it's illegal to take sand off beaches in Bermuda, anyhow.''