Margate is gearing up to welcome thousands of off-road enthusiasts to its golden sands next weekend.

The seaside town will be hosting the BXUK international beachcross contest which will kick-start the 2016 British Quad Beachcross championship.

It is the 10th year the town has hosted the series of races.

The seafront will be transformed into an open-air racing amphitheatre with athletes ready battle it out on both two and four wheels across a number of 15 to 20-minute races.

Some of Europe’s top sand-racing specialists will be making the trip.

Solo riding French ace Arnaud Degousee will be all out to reclaim the BXUK crown from 2015 champion Irishman Richard McKeown.

However, reigning champion Carl Bunce, from Reading, will be defending his title.

Practice starts at 10am on Saturday, March 5 and Sunday, March 6, followed by the races, and watching the action is free.