BOURNEMOUTH’S newest attraction is set to open this weekend, bringing new life to the failed surf reef at Boscombe.

The £3 million reef, which never fulfilled its brief for surfers, will now be used for diving and snorkelling, as well as kite and wind surfing, as part of the Coastal Activity Park.

It opens at Boscombe Seafront this weekend, with a fun-filled programme being promised.

There will be an evening of jugglers, circus performers, live music and family enter-tainment from 5pm on Satur-day, finishing with a fireworks display at Boscombe Pier from 8.30pm.

On Sunday, the fun continues from 11am, with more circus acts, sports demon-strations, dance perform-ers and life-guarding and rescue stunts.

Cllr Lawrence Williams, Bournemouth council’s cabinet member for tourism, said: “This will be a fantastic opportunity for everyone to come and see our Coastal Activity Park; there’ll be something for every age and sports ability.

“We are planning a fun, carnival-like atmosphere on the Saturday night, with entertain-ment for all the family, while the Sunday will provide lots of opportunities to spectate or participate, depending on what you fancy doing.

“We’d like everyone to come and have a go – there’ll be climb and play boulders by Boscombe Pier, dance performances, sporting activities, a musical trail, and sporting displays both on land and water – it promises to be enormous fun for everyone and a great free event during the Easter holidays for residents and visitors.

“The day will give the ideal opportunity for everyone to come and experience the Coastal Activity Park’s new equipment, to come and see water sports displays, try out the new table-tennis tables, gym buddy trail, have a go at slack-lining, enjoy volleyball competitions – it’s a real chance to discover what is available year round at the new Coastal Activity Park at Boscombe seafront.

“We’ll be offering a packed activity programme this year and this will be the perfect time to discover all about it and to get involved.”

Chris Parker, who sculpted the boulders, added: “We came up with designs to recreate some local landmarks. The results are very pleasing so far.

“They will be used as a play climbing area for children and hopefully be an attraction.

“We used polystyrene to give the basic shape and then sprayed it with concrete. We do the carving while the concrete is still semi soft.”