RESIDENTS of one Hampshire village will be leaving their winter blues at home tonight as they head to a beach party at their local pub.

The Roebuck in Marchwood has been filled with everything seaside, from inflatable palm trees to beach balls, volleyball nets, real sand and a foam machine.

Bar staff will don shorts and T-shirts and are expecting 150 skimpily dressed punters to join them for tonight’s party, which celebrates Australia Day.

It is the second time the pub has held a winter beach party and after last year’s success, staff also celebrated Christmas in July.

Landlady Maria Ettridge, 45, said: “We did it last year and we got so many pictures of people in shorts and T-shirts and it was so funny. We had to put the heating up because it was so cold.

“All our customers are talking about it. Everyone is quite excited.”

The free event starts at 7.30pm. People are encouraged to wear summer clothes.