Weymouth will host a ministerial visit today as officials make a case for an injection of much-needed government funding for the town.

Jake Berry, Minister of Housing, Communities and Local Government, will meet with South Dorset MP Richard Drax and representatives from Weymouth and Portland Borough Council to discuss the regeneration of the town’s harbourside area and improvements to infrastructure.

It comes after Mr Drax met with Mr Berry and borough council leader Cllr Jeff Cant in London in March to make the case for a grant from the Coastal Communities Fund.

The fifth Coastal Communities funding round opened in February and will grant a total of £40 million for spending between April next year and March 2021.

At the time, Mr Drax said the grant could be used to repair the harbour and marina walls and improve sea defences. Mr Drax said that Mr Berry will be visiting the town to follow up discussions about the funding.

It is hoped a slice of funding could also be used to back the Pavilion peninsula scheme, currently going through the planning stage. The minister will be attending the borough council offices before visiting Weymouth Pavilion, where the minister will address local business people.