IT IS never going to vie with Bournemouth or Brighton, but Milford seafront is to have a £300,000 facelift in time for the 2005 summer season.

A stroll along Milford prom has always provided stunning views to the Needles and Christchurch Bay - in fair weather or foul.

But the surface underfoot is something of an obstacle course with a mix of concrete paving slabs, gravel and loose shingle.

New Forest District Council's cabinet has now approved a scheme that will make it an easy jaunt for young and old, abled-bodied and infirm.

"It's going to tidy up a tired-looking promenade and make for easy access along a continuous footpath between Hordle House and the Marine Caf," said parish council clerk Keith Metcalf.

The revamp will link the clifftop path with the promenade area close to Hurst Road.

The new promenade will be of hard-wearing epoxy-resin bonded with chippings.

Concrete beach huts will be brightened up and a wide strip of grass laid east of the Needle's Eye Caf.

Car parking spaces lost to grass will be replaced in the overflow car park on the opposite side of the road, where narrow gateways will stop travellers setting up camp there as has happened in the past.

Old concrete posts and tatty fencing will be removed, and there will be more seats, improved signs and low level lighting.

Neil Williamson, the district council's open spaces team leader, said: "We're hopeful a start will be made in the autumn, probably September."

The project could last up to four months, depending on the weather as the resin-bonded surface cannot be laid in temperatures less than five degrees Centigrade.

Hand-in-hand with the first phase will be the replacement of the Hurst Road public loos.

Derek Pinder, the council's contracts manager, said no designs had been drawn up, but there is £180,000 in the budget.