SCAFFOLDING will go up today on a historic monument in Weymouth which is getting a makeover.

Sandsfoot Castle, which overlooks Portland Harbour, is being restored thanks to a £194,700 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

News that the grant had been accepted was revealed in January, following a submission from Weymouth and Portland Borough Council working with the Friends of Rodwell Trail & Sandsfoot Gardens. Now the scaffolding is to go up in preparation for masonry repairs which are due to start soon.

The work will be undertaken Sally Strachey Historic Conservation Ltd.

Chairman of the Friends’ David Carter said: “The delivery of the project is progressing well and, once the scaffolding has gone up, the structural repairs can begin.

“The scaffolding will be erected over a five-day period and we apologise in advance for any disruptions this may cause to local residents or visitors to the gardens.”

Mr Carter added: “The building works will take place over the next six months and, upon completion of the project, the public will be able access the castle once again.”

The work will help to preserve the castle, provide a new walk platform around the interior walls and introduce new floodlighting to the perimeter and interior of the structure.