An ambitious vision to transform Musselburgh's waterfront has got under way with a bid to have Fisherrow Sands designated as a bathing beach.

Volunteers from the Fisherrow Waterfront Group, assisted by East Lothian Council, have been monitoring visitor numbers on selected days throughout the summer to build up evidence that the beach, which stretches west of Fisherrow Harbour to the town's border with Joppa, meets the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's (SEPA's) requirements.

To gain bathing beach designation the group must prove the sands site is visited by at least 150 people on at least three occasions during June, July and August.

The group is hopeful it will meet the standard after the beach and promenade attracted 459 visitors on July 8 between 9am and 4.30pm, despite cloudy weather and a peak temperature of just 16 degrees celsius.

Assisting the group is Kaela Scott, local community planning officer for the council, who said after another counting day due to be held in the coming weeks, volunteers hope to submit their evidence to SEPA shortly afterwards.

She explained that one of the major benefits of gaining bathing beach designation was that the water quality would be monitored and results published by SEPA, which she said could help tackle misconceptions about the beach.

She added: \"There's currently a membership drive to get more people involved and broaden awareness. We want to get the community involved and we are asking if they have photos of the beach in use to send them in as part of the evidence we're building.\"

The group hopes designation could also help them pply for grants to improve the beach through better signage, access points and shower stalls.

However, gaining bathing beach designation is just the first step in the group's plan to improve all areas of Musselburgh's waterfront.

David Wilkie, 58, of West Holmes Gardens, is a member of the group. He outlined some of the ideas, saying: \"A number of things have come together in this group from improving basic maintenance of the harbour to creating a sports hub for water sports and beach volleyball.

\"We've been looking at the likes of Anstruther and various other harbours that have had a fishing history.

\"We don't have fishing any more so we are looking at what we can make of the harbour now, recognising its history but bringing it up to date so that it's not just a car park.\"

Ideas for improving Fisherrow Harbour include ambitious aims such as establishing an open-air amphitheatre or venue for shows and events.

Suggestions for improving other aspects of the waterfront include encouraging more access to the wilderness area at the mouth of the River Esk and exploring the possibility of re-introducing mussels to the estuary of the Esk.

For now the group's first aim is to increase involvement from residents and local businesses to help develop their plans.

Having attended the harbour ceremony during Musselburgh's Festival week members will return to Fisherrow again this Sunday to raise awareness at a 'Harbour Showcase'.

The group formally adopted a constitution at its meeting in June making it eligible to apply for charitable status. Members plan to elect office bearers in September.

For more information about getting involved or to contribute photos of the Fisherrow Sands email mus selburghLCP@eastlothian.gov.uk.