A £55,000 project to improve a section of Poole's seafront is nearing completion. Four beach huts have been installed at the bottom of Flaghead Chine where a new 'seaside play garden' is being created.

Old brick paving has been removed, Purbeck stone planters and seats have been installed and the surrounding area has now been re-surfaced. Three Portland stone shell sculptures are set to be installed next week. The works form part of the Seafront Development Programme, a £6.6million investment in Poole’s seafront partly funded by a grant from the government’s Coastal Communities Fund.

The new seaside garden is designed to provide an opportunity for ‘sensory play’. Benches will be integrated into the planting to create multiple seating areas for small groups of people.

The four huts have been arranged in a crescent to ‘maximise sea views’.

Commenting on the refurbished area, a Poole council spokesperson said it was "designed to connect the spectacular views through the wooded chine onto the beach and beyond to the Purbeck Hills", adding: "The garden will offer younger visitors the opportunity for sensory and quiet play and create an inspirational meeting point for friends and family."

The beach huts, which feature pitched roofs, will be available to rent from the council on an annual, short-term basis.

In a design and access statement, the borough said: “As the huts will be set back from the retaining wall, overshadowing of the cliff is minimised which in turn protects nature conservation features and the habitats of potential European protected species.

“Externally the huts will be timber clad with glazed doors. The roof will be felt or similar material. It is considered that the proposals reinforce local distinctiveness and respect the shoreline character.”

As reported in the Daily Echo recently, the public are being consulted on another project within the Seafront Development Programme at Shore Road promenade. The £650,000 scheme would see a new watersports centre, beach office and catering outlet built, as well as new and modernised beach huts and refurbished toilets and showers.

Improvements to seating and the landscaping of public areas would also be made.