SAND yachting is set to return to the Lancashire coastline – 12 years after one of the crafts claimed the life of a Burnley mother-of-two.

Carole Cruz, 38, was mowed down by a sand yacht on the beach at St Annes in August 2002 during a high-speed race.

Her sons, then aged 12 and 14, were with her as she suffered serious leg and back injuries and later died at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. This led to a moratorium on the sport on the Fylde coast.

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The pilot of the sand yacht was later found not guilty of manslaughter at a Preston Crown Court trial.

Now – after previous attempts failed and in partnership with a commercial company – Trax, with the support of the British Landsailing Association, the sport is set to make a return.

Last weekend a demonstration event was staged, with the BLA’s backing, using mini-yacht which already operate at 10 UK beaches.

And council bosses that safety considerations will be paramount before the firm is allowed to operate on a long-term trial.

A Fylde Council spokesman said: “Our initial impressions are that it went very smoothly. We will be evaluating it later this week and very soon – within days – we hope to offer a longer-term trial to Trax Windsports. If Trax can show they have necessary procedures in place to monitor public safety and the effect on wildlife we will offer them a licence for certain windsports until next August.

“We will then assess how Saturday’s event and the longer trial has gone before we decide the long-term future of the sport. Eventually we hope to see a club formed of local enthusiasts to get the sport growing in the area.”