A seawall has been transformed with 50 litres of paint, thanks to artist Richard Jeferies.

The dad-of-four spent two days preparing the 200ft concrete canvas in Sheerness and then asked the public to join him at the weekend to add their own names and messages in 163 painted shells.

Many took the opportunity to commemorate lost loved ones. Among them was the family of the late Sheppey GP Dr Kedar Prasad who died in May aged 77.

The wall at the top of Beach Street now boasts smiling faces, sandcastles, a heron, deckchair and colourful letters spelling Sheerness On Sea.

Mr Jeferies, from James Street, Sheerness, said: "I was turning people away on Sunday afternoon because I had to seal the wall to protect it from the weather.

"But this proves there is a huge appetite for this sort of thing on the Island. I was totally gobsmacked at the response and astounded by the talent."

Even the Isle of Sheppey carnival queen and princesses turned up on their way to Sittingbourne carnival and left their marks.

Mr Jeferies began painting at 7am on Thursday and finished at 5.30pm Sunday with help from assistant Allana Devine. He said: "It was virtually non-stop and difficult painting at an angle. We are all exhausted!"

The mammoth paint-in was commissioned by Swale council's Visit Sheppey tourism team.

Artist Chris Reed from the Big Fish Band said it was an "absolutely fantastic" project and mum Beverley Nolker said: "Richard brought our community together and created a masterpiece. It is brilliant."

Julia McDougall added: "Richard has put the smile back in Sheerness-on-Sea. I so love it. Happy colours equal happy people."

But Dawn Benson said: "Someone's pinched the bottom of the first E" and Lee Carey added: "Please sort that E out. It's crazy that a sandcastle was painted over part of it. It looks like Shferness."

Mr Jeferies replied: "The mural is an art work rather than a road sign. Art is a personal perception. If nothing else, it gets people talking."

But Lee asked: "Do we want to be talked about because we can't even spell Sheerness right?"

The final word came from Mr Jeferies. He said: "I'm not changing it."

Fellow muralist Dean Tweedy caused a storm when he painted a 'moody mermaid' in Sheerness in 2015.

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