A beloved town landmark will be getting some much needed tender loving care.

Planning permission has been granted to install lights at the base of the 126-year-old clock tower at the end of Harmer Street, Gravesend.

The scheme was given the all clear at Gravesham council's planning board on Wednesday night.

The council applied for planning permission as one of the steps in a process to secure a £150,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant, which will allow an extensive refurbishment of the Grade II Listed building.

In the council report it said: “Given that the clock tower is one of the main principal buildings in the town it is considered appropriate to light the exterior.

“It appears that the lighting, that is proposed, would generally appear as discreet as possible and would properly and sympathetically highlight the architectural character and details of this landmark building.”

A lump sum of £4,700 has been awarded to the council by the HLF so that work can get under way to plan its next application for a full £150,000 grant.

Heritage grants are assessed in two rounds and the first round can often include immediate funding. Detailed proposals are then considered as long as plans are deemed satisfactory.

Originally designed by architect John Johnson, work on the clock tower started in 1887 to mark the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria. It cost £1,097 to build and was finished by 1889.

The clock tower has been standing in a sorry state for years and has become a magnet for street drinkers.

Its stonework is crumbling and there is graffiti across the plinth, all of which blights a handsome landmark in the town centre and an important heritage icon.

Part of the proposed spruce-up would see a new lighting system would be installed to make the monument look more attractive.

As examples, the clock tower would be basked in red and green at Christmas, red and white during St George’s Day, and green on St Patrick’s Day.

Local people will be able to see how the project progresses with plans to include an exhibition collection and a digital display of photographs of the clock tower.