A Folkestone artist is hoping his gothic-like sculpture of Dr Syn will result in boosting tourism on the Marsh.

Max Crow, 62, of George Lane, Folkestone, has just finished a model made of metal, wood and fibre glass, measuring 1.3m by 1m, and he believes it's the most sinister-looking Dr Syn yet.

"I've tried ot make him as scary as possible," said Mr Crow.

"His scarecrow image stands on a pole and I hope people will like it and say let's make a much larger version of this model for displaying somewhere in Dymchurch to generate more tourists."

His Dr Syn creation comes amidst plans by others to link a 160ft scarecrow with a rejuvenated Martello tower.

Niko Mialoulis, entrepeneur and publican on the Marsh, wants to see a giant scarecrow figure - the idea of himself and artist Terry Anthony - to be erected at Haguelands Village, comprising a bistro, farm shop and maze, and to be linked by the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway to a refurbished Martello tower in Dymchurch.

Half of the tower would be taken up with a visitor centre celebrating the Marsh's history.

Visitors would then get on the railway to take them to the scarecrow.

The 160ft landmark takes its inspiration from Dr Syn, the legendary fictional anti-hero of Romney Marsh, created by author Russell Thorndike, who used a scarecrow's clothing for his disguise.