About 800 people have found about a £900,000 project to protect and promote the appreciation of Suffolk's coastline.

On Sunday a Touching the Tide celebration day was held in Southwold to showcase the work the three year scheme is involved in and what its aims are.

The celebration day was held at the Southwold Boating Lake and Tearoom and saw a wide range of fun activities for children and families to enjoy.

Children could find out about fossils and then make their own, could build their own lighthouse night light, go on donkey rides, make birds and smoothies and weave willow fishes.

There was also chance to enjoy Punch and Judy shows, sail model yachts, take part in an archaeological dig and crafts and games and help to clean the town's beach.

There were also information stands and everyone who entered the free event was given a brochure outlining the complex work Touching the Tide is involved with.

Touching the Tide is a Landscape Partnership Scheme which aims to protect the landscape and promote a love of the coastal environment, its history, wildlife and habitats.

It is also highlighting the uncertain future of the coast in the face of rising sea levels and dramatic changes caused by tidal changes and the weather.

Kate Osborne, project officer, said: 'We had about 800 people here. We are gobsmacked that so many came. The fossil making proved hugely popular, so was the lighthouse light making.

'It was a great way of showing people about the work Touching the Tide is doing. It is very varied.'

Other groups involved in Sunday's celebration day were the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, which ran a wild beach event, the Marine Conservation Society, the RSPB, Eastfeast, GeoSuffolk, Sustrans, which provided bike and puncture repair advice, and Access Cambridge Archaeology.

Multi-media artist Matt Reeves took part in the fossil making sessions.

The three-year Touching the Tide project has been working with groups, including schools, on a wide range of activities linked to the stretch of coast – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) – between Covehithe and Felixstowe.

Led by the Suffolk Coast and Heaths (AONB) team, Touching the Tide has three staff and wants to have 33 projects up and running by spring 2016.

For information on Touching the Tide visit www.touchingthetide.org.uk or ring 01394 384948.