SWANAGE Bandstand has finally been dismantled as part of the complete restoration of the town's popular Victorian structure.

Earlier this year the Friends of Swanage Bandstand (FOSB) group and Swanage Town Council announced the contract for the refurbishment had been awarded, although funding is still needed to bankroll new seating at the site.

FOSB founder Alan Houghton said: "The bandstand has now been dismantled by the the architectural firm Lost Art, who sent a team down from Wigan and they did the job with such precision they could have been surgeons.

"The next stage is total refurbishment of what is left of the original, and then the recasting of the pieces that are missing – which for Lost Art is no problem as they have just done the same bandstand as ours in Leamington Spa, and that now looks fantastic, so watch this space."

Work on the drains, surrounding surfaces and stonework was expected to start this wee and last up until late August.

Mr Houghton said: "The last stage of our fundraising is for the seating and we could do with a few people who have a bit of surplus money to spare please.

"Again we thank everyone who continues to support us as we’ve almost won the battle."

The original Swanage Bandstand, manufactured by Walter Macfarlane & Co at the Saracen Foundry, Glasgow, was made of cast iron and installed in 1923.

The overall costs of the project is likely to top £207,000 by the time it is finished.

In April, thanks to £81,000 raised by FOSB, a £40,000 government coastal revival fund grant, and £50,000 pledged by Swanage Town Council, £171,000 had been raised.

In 2017 the town council announced the sunken bandstand may have to be filled in if no proposals for the site were forthcoming.

The roof of the Victorian structure had been declared unsound during refurbishment works in 2012, which had taken place to address significant storm damage it had suffered previously.

News the bandstand was facing its final curtain caused public outcry locally, and after more than 200 people attended a crisis meeting, Mr Houghton established FOSB.