A series of giant sand sculptures have been destroyed in Birmingham by vandals on three separate occasions.

The International Sand Sculpture Festival, including work by a world champion, was due to take place at the Aston Events Centre and has now been scrapped.

Organisers Family First Development had planned to run the festival from last Saturday until August 3.

Chairman Tom Stewart said: “No words could describe the disappointment” following the attacks, which happened on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

"The sculptors repaired their work but the vandals struck again.”

The displays avoided using traditional figures of castles and dragons and instead focused predominantly on a snowman theme which was used to create “Disney-like characters” according to Mr Stewart.

Figures in the display, which were up to 20 ft high, included work by World Champion Sand Sculptor Ted Siebert.

However, Aston Events Centre and Family First have plans for an event based around ice sculptures in the near future, while Mr Stewart stressed that they would again use sand sculptures providing “the environment and security was right”.

Family First say the overall cost of the sand sculpture festival was £100,000, including salaries for the sculptors, bringing sand to the city and the cost of security. The festival was part of development and regeneration projects at Aston Events Centre by Advantage West Midlands.