Plans for a 32-storey tower in Gravesend have been sensationally shelved.

The announcement was made at a press conference this morning at Gravesham civic centre.

Developers Edinburgh House had applied to Gravesham council to build the controversial glass and steel tower block on the riverfront at St Andrew's Gardens.

But the proposal was met with fierce opposition from residents and a pressure group called Say No To The Tower was formed to fight it.

While traders, keen to see the regeneration of Gravesend town centre, formed their own organisation to support the application called Say Yes To Gravesend.

Gravesham council said the withdrawal of the tower plans was not connected to protests from Urban Gravesham but stemmed from serious concerns raised by English Heritage.

As well as the tower at St Andrew's Gardens, development of the Heritage Quarter included shops and open space and was expected to bring hundreds of jobs to the area.

Edinburgh House insist the rest of the development will still go ahead but have yet to explain how they will fund it, as the profit from the tower was cited as the source of funds for the regeneration.

The council decided to re-open the public consultation on the £150 million redevelopment late last year.

The news conference was still ongoing at the time of writing and its future is not yet known.