Competitors will dig in to the Bermuda Sandcastle Competition this month with a total of $3,500 in prize money at stake.

A top prize of $500 will be awarded to the best sandcastle and a further $3,000 worth of cash prizes can be won across four categories for residents.

Tourists will also be eligible to enter the competition in a special category.

Hannah Emmerson, organiser of the annual event, said free workshops will be held on August 24, 28 and 29 from 5.30pm at Horseshoe Bay.

Ms Emmerson said: “In these sessions, participants will learn how to create a masterpiece in sand from past champions, discover quick tips and tricks to keeping sand in place and other details.”

Entry into the competition is free, but teams should register online at www.sandcastle.bm to ensure a place is available.

On the day of the event, competitors will check between 9.30am and noon, with the building beginning at 10am.

Participants will receive free beverages on the day of the competition though a partnership with John Barritt and Son.

Ms Emmerson said: “Each team will be assigned a building plot of 10ft by 10ft and will be supplied with a large mound of sand to work with to give them a head start.

“All sandcastle building tools must be downed by 4pm, at which time the judges will arrive on the beach and commence judging.”

The competition will be held at Horseshoe Bay on August 31,

The competition’s judges will include Jamal Hart from the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation, and N’zingha Ming from the Bermuda Society of Art gallery, Tim Morrison from the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club and David Thomas from the Bermuda Tourism Authority. Ms Emmerson also said that the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club was lead sponsor for the competition, with Alexandra Mosher Studio Jewellery, telecoms company Digicel and the insurance firm Oil Group also backing the event.

Tim Morrison, the general manager of the hotel, said: “We are thrilled to be able to support the Bermuda Sandcastle Competition yet again this year. The event is a fantastic spectacle for locals and visitors alike and makes for a wonderful day at the beach. We can’t wait to see what the competitors come up with.”

Alexandra Mosher added: “We incorporate Bermuda’s iconic pink sand into our products, so we look forward to seeing how the teams use it to create their sand sculptures at Horseshoe Bay.”