One of Kent's tourist attractions looks set to finally reopen its doors tomorrow after being shut for two years.

Dickens House Museum in Broadstairs closed due to the Covid pandemic in 2020 and remained shut despite other attractions reopening.

The museum, which celebrates Charles Dickens’ connection with Broadstairs, was once the home of Miss Mary Pearson Strong, on whom the author based much of the character Betsey Trotwood in David Copperfield.

It displays items that once belonged to the author, alongside displays of Dickensian memorabilia, Victorian costumes and Victoriana.

During its two-year closure, the museum was targeted by vandalism, when former councillor Ian Driver spray-painted anti-racist comments on the building in June 2020.

He claimed it was "direct action" against “institutionally racist” local authorities who commemorate an author he believes was a “genocidal racist”.

The words were painted over soon after the incident.

To celebrate the reopening on Good Friday, two members of The Dickens Declaimers, Val Whitehouse and Alan Root, will be doing a dramatic reading from David Copperfield at 1pm.

Dickens House is owned by Thanet District Council and the operations are supported by the tourism and visitor services team.

Peter Shaw, who has been caretaker at the museum for a number of years, will be visitor manager for the 2022 season.

The reopening has been made possible by a contribution from Broadstairs and St Peter’s Town Council and is supported by Broadstairs Dickens Fellowship.

A team of volunteers will be supporting Mr Shaw, by welcoming visitors and guiding them around the house.

Cllr Reece Pugh, deputy leader and cabinet member for economic development, says the attraction is popular with visitors, school groups and language students.

"I would like to thank Broadstairs and St Peter’s Town Council, Broadstairs Dickens Fellowship and the volunteers for enabling the museum to reopen," he added.

Dickens House Museum will be open Good Friday to July 24, Wednesday to Sundays, 1pm to 4.30pm

School summer holidays, from July 25 to September 4, it will be open daily, 10am to 4.30pm

Monday, September 5 to Sunday, October 30 it will open Wednesday to Sunday, 1pm to 4.30pm.

Anyone interested in being a volunteer at Dickens House contact dickenshouse@thanet.gov.uk or calling 01843 861 232.