HUNDREDS of people have had their say on how they feel the future of the piers should look.

Deputy leader of BCP Council, Philip Broadhead started the discussion when he asked his Twitter followers how they felt Bournemouth and Boscombe piers should be developed.

And Daily Echo readers have responded with suggestions on how the piers can be improved.

Below is a selection of the best suggestions:

Street food, mini markets and pop-up bars in summer. Pop-up takeaway coffees and cake for winter trade. Businesses could rent the space as they please so there's always something new. Don't need a Costa coffee or big brand moving in, more independents would be great for the town.

Swimming pool indoors as weather not always good. Should have kept one in town. Don't need more bars or restaurants. Shame the balloon went too. Maybe something like that again.

Boscombe Pier area is lovely and much nicer than Bournemouth Pier. It has a real Mediterranean ambience with the outside seating. Maybe more cafes and restaurants.

Leave them as they are. Love going for walk along the piers. Reminds me of my childhood holidays to.

It would be lovely to have more cafes on the stretch between the two piers. The area has nothing, and many people walk this stretch daily.

Seriously would like something for us locals and not just tourists. Fix the fishing platforms, make them bigger? Actually set it up for fishing.

I think we should open them up, so that visiting boats can more alongside or near them. This could be in the form of a temporary marina for the summer. This would also open up a water taxi service from Poole, Swanage and the locality. Stop some of the congestion on the roads. Good for the economy and locals who should pay a reduced fair.

I think we should consider revamping Bournemouth Pier along the lines of St Pete's Pier, St. Petersburg, making it more of an attraction that you could spend time on. I think a vertical pier - think observation tower close to the Showbar would be a great attraction too, soaking up those gorgeous views of the bay, Poole Harbour, IoW, Purbecks, Lower and Upper Gardens etc.

If funds allow, I like the suggestion of creating a Bournemouth marina. Small shops and bistros would draw people in and create a lovely seaside atmosphere.

Definitely restore ferry services off both piers to the Isle of Wight, Swanage etc, reopen the theatre on Bournemouth pier and extend Boscombe pier so it can have some kind of entertainment venue on the end like restaurants, theatres etc.