Life's a beach from nowon for competition winner

AN office worker has won the work experience placement of a lifetime – soaking up the sun to find the perfect beach in the Bahamas.

Lauren Stott beat off stiff competition from hundreds of other hopefuls to win the dream role, which will see her spend an all-expenses-paid fortnight enjoying some of the most picturesque beaches the islands have to offer, courtesy of holiday company Sandals.

The 25-year-old is now preparing to jet off to the Caribbean holiday destination to shadow the current “sandman”, who has spent five years scouring sandy beauty spots.

Miss Stott, of Steeton, West Yorkshire, jumped at the chance to enter the Sandals competition after spotting it on the company’s website.

The office manager was looking for ways to break into travel writing and stumbled across the opportunity to sample the best sun spots the Bahamas has to offer by becoming an apprentice “sandman”.

To win, aspiring sandmen had to explain why they deserved the perfect post and the contest guidelines asked for an adventurous traveller with a love for sand and sea.

Miss Stott said: “I just wrote a poem on a whim about crisp white sand, crystal clear waters and the sun beating down – the hotter the better.

“I was in total shock when I received the call and am utterly thrilled to have won. I have been given the choice of when I want to start the placement. I am allowed to do it any time before the end of the year but I’ll want to check the weather to see when it will be hottest to work on the tan.”

The administrator’s flight will be paid for and she will be staying free of charge at Sandals’ Emerald Bay Resort.

Original sandman Jeremy Jones will teach her the art of spotting an ideal beach.

During her work placement Miss Stott will be attempting to find hidden beaches, checking sand and air quality, carrying out water tests and rating the views.