NINE companies swapped the usual tools of their trade for buckets and spades at an annual sandcastle building competition in Frinton.

The informal team building event, hosted by Daniel Connal Partnership, saw invited teams from firms around the East compete to build the best structure made of sand at Frinton Beach.

This year’s theme was to build a landmark for Frinton fitting within a 25sq metre plot.

In its ninth year, the competition was won by the joint team of NJ Architects and Ellisons Solicitors for their lighthouse sculpture.

Jonathan Dennis, from DCP, said: “We host the event every year as a bit of team-building fun for our colleagues.

“All the teams put in a tremendous amount of effort, and the resulting sandcastles are quite something to behold.”

The contest was judged by Frinton mayor Fiona Robertson an