A HUGE grant to help support the restoration of a popular seaside attraction has been welcomed.

The Government’s Culture Recovery Fund has allocated £469,800 for the Swanage Pier Regeneration Project.

The award is part of £13.5 million in targeted grants to be allocated from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. It follows £1 billion awarded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to a range of cultural and heritage organisations last year.

South Dorset MP Richard Drax said: “This fading Victorian gem has long been a focal point in Swanage and these funds will help it create a sustainable future. I congratulate the Pier Trust chairman Ben Adeney and his colleagues on winning this grant and wish them every success.”

“The pandemic has badly affected a wide number of regeneration and restoration projects.”