A CEREMONY marking the completion of a multi-million-pound beach hut scheme is due to take place today.

The huts have been built at Hurst Road, Milford on Sea, to replace those that were damaged or destroyed in a ferocious storm that battered the coastline on February 14, 2014.

Dubbed the Valentine’s Day Storm, 80mph winds also wrecked The Marine restaurant at Milford.

Happy couples enjoying a romantic dinner at the seafront eatery had to be evacuated by coastguards and firefighters as rocks crashed through the windows and the ground floor began flooding.

As previously reported, the bill for replacing the beach huts jumped from £1.2 million to £2.3 million – almost twice the original estimate.

The initial price-tag was based on the cost replacing the original beach huts with similar structures.

Last year New Forest District Council agreed to expand the scheme to include improvements to the seafront.

The resulting cost hike was condemned by Cllr David Harrison, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition group, who criticised what he described as a “stupid and wasteful” use of taxpayers’ money.

But former council leader Mel Kendal, who lives in Milford and represents the village on the authority, rejected criticism of the scheme.

Cllr Kendal said: “We want Milford to remain a good tourist spot. The economic return to the rest of the New Forest is very important.”

Today’s ceremony will be attended by members of the New Forest Beach Hut Owners’ Association (NFBHOA), who have been without their seaside haven for three summers.

Colin Read, the council’s deputy chief executive, will present NFBHOA representative Colin Holdsworth with the keys to one of the new huts.

Mr Read said “I’m proud the council has been able to make the best of the unexpected opportunity to improve Milford’s seafront for everyone.”