Costa Del Thames is just fine

You can keep the girl from Ipanema, the topless models in St Tropez and the surf bums at Bondi - London beach is the only place to be.

The sun may be struggling to emerge from the clouds and the temperature is barely 12C, but why travel thousands of miles when you can have sandcastles and ice cream on your doorstep?

Inspired by the plans of the South Bank Centre and British Film Institute to set up a beach from July to September, reporter Rebecca Lawrence and I put up a sun umbrella, unfolded the deckchairs and rolled out a beach towel.

Admittedly there was no volleyball, no barbecues, nor any of the other activities planned for the London beach, but we made the best of it. We set up camp in the shadow of the London Eye, a few yards from Hungerford Bridge coach park, where the beach is planned.

We couldn't manage the tonnes of specially imported sand that will be scattered over the site, but a bag of children's sand was enough not only to build a modest castle, but also to end up in our sandwiches.

The erratic spring sunshine added that touch of British seaside authenticity.

There were plenty of puzzled looks from passers-by as we rolled up our trouser legs and wiggled our toes in the sand, but they'll just have to get used to that if the plans get the go-ahead. After all, it is hoped that hundreds of city beachgoers will enjoy the benefits of a cafe, yoga and massage sessions, children's entertainers and even night-time film performances courtesy of the BFI.

For us the only sporting activity was our bat and ball and the entertainment came from waving at tourists high above us riding on the London Eye. Security guards, obviously mistaking us for models on a photo shoot for a glossy magazine, turned a blind eye. But in the distance a small child could be heard crying out: "Mummy, why is that man playing in the sand?"