CERNE Abbas Giant is in line for a facelift after complaints that the larger-than-life chalk landmark is fading away.

Plans are under way to re-chalk the 180-foot high giant with the help of volunteers in September.

National Trust regional communications manager Katharine Davies said: "He will be returned to his former glory.

"Re-chalking happens about every five to seven years and the wardens there hope local schoolchildren and people will volunteer to help and see what's involved with re-chalking."

She said the need for re-chalking was exacerbated by the fact that no sheep were grazed on the site this year.

Annual grazing by sheep keeps the grass short and emphasises the giant's lines.

Earlier this year Helen Mann, who is National Trust west Dorset property trust manager, said the hillside was too steep to be mowed or strimmed and the trust had not been able to secure a flock of sheep and did not have the resources to have one of its own.The work starts on September 13 and nearer the time details about how volunteers can help will be on the NT website www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wessex.

The spruce-up comes after white witch Kevin Carlyon threatened to cast a spell on the National Trust for letting the figure fade into the hillside.

The move has delighted Mr Carlyon.

He said: "We held back from putting that spell on the National Trust but we did a spell to ensure they got on with it.

"Many people come from all over the world to see the giant and take photos - he's very popular in Japan and China - and it wasn't being looked after properly."

Mr Carlyon, who lives in St Leonards-on-Sea, near Hastings, raised the profile of the figure by bringing couples who were unable to have children to boost their chances of conception by making love on the giant.

He said: "I know couples are still going there.

"It's become a bit of British folklore.

"I get emails from people who have gone there to do it and have children - it works."

Mr Carlyon said he planned to bring more couples to the giant at the end of September and would cast a spell for good weather to ensure the re-chalking would succeed.