Work to spruce up one of a Kent town's most treasured landmarks has been announced as pictures have emerged of its poor state.

Deal Pier – the town's third – was opened nearly 60 years ago on November 19, 1957 by the Duke of Edinburgh, but recent neglect has left the tourist attraction looking shabby and dangerous.

Cllr Trevor Bond was alerted to the wear and tear by residents who complained of corroded posts, rusty hand rails and a protruding bolt from a removed seat.

The town, district and county councillor informed the district council who he says where very swift to act and a series of improvement works has now been outlined.

Cllr Bond said: “I was horrified when I walked down there.

"It had got to the stage where action needed to be taken.

"It’s a key tourist point for us. Many more people go to the pier than any other attraction in the district. We should have it as the flagship attraction.”

Cllr Bond was most concerned about a protruding bolt, which had emerged following the removal of a seat. He alerted officers who had it removed within 24 hours.

Future improvements include new seating, lighting and pier surface.

He said: “Dover District Council are now on the case but we shouldn’t have let it get to this stage.

"They’ve started work to fix things and they’ve given me a schedule of upgrading that I hope will be complete by summer next year.

“I’m hoping at the end of this we’re going to have a first class pier.”

A DDC spokesman said: “We continue to review and monitor maintenance issues on the pier, and make any urgent repairs as necessary.

"This has included recent work to remove a protruding bolt.

“Provision has been made in the medium term capital plan for the pier stem to be refurbished.

"Although we are at an early stage, this should include new seating, new lighting, a new pier surface and repairs to the concrete structure.

“It is anticipated that work should commence during the spring of 2018.

“An initial survey has identified that some concrete repairs are required in the shorter term and we are seeking specialist advice and prices to enable these repairs to be made before the onset of winter.”