Great Britain's beach volleyball squad believe a first-ever Olympic medal is an attainable target for London 2012.

The team's only appearance at a Games was 13 years ago in Atlanta, but the sport has enjoyed unprecedented growth in the UK in recent years thanks to the establishment of a specialist training centre at the University of Bath, where Matt Grinlaubs, an Olympic competitor with his native Australia, overseeing athlete development.

Another factor has been the success of the British Masters tournament in Blackpool, which was held for the first time last year and got under way again this week.

Spectators turned out in their droves to see the cream of the continent's talent competing on the penultimate leg of their European tour.

And there was no time for fun in the sun for Britain's leading stars, who feel they are getting ready to make history in three years' time.

Gregg Weaver, who along with Steve Grotowski forms the UK's number one beach volleyball men's pairing, said: "I would like to be on the podium for 2012 and I think that's a very achievable target.

"That means both personally and for the squad. It would be a great achievement for the sport.

"Being in an Olympics alone is amazing, but being at an Olympics in your home country will be a life-changing experience."

Grotowski agreed that everything was in place for the team to work towards securing a medal at the 2012 finals, which are to be held in the grand setting of London's Horse Guards Parade.

"It's going to be tough, a lot of hard work," Grotowski said.

"There are tonnes of good teams and it's a very deep sport - a lot of good players, with two or three teams from each country vying for spots.

"But I think we have the right make-up for the team. We've got the right support staff around us for strength and conditioning, nutrition and physio. So yes, I think it's a realistic goal.

"Hopefully by the time the Olympics rolls around everyone will know about beach volleyball and it should be an amazing event at the Horse Guards Parade."

The English Masters - which features more than 50 teams from around 20 countries - reaches its conclusion on Sunday ahead of the European Tour finale in Sochi, Russia next week.