Taxpayers could be left to pick up the £500,000 bill for urgent repairs to The Beaney - just six years after it underwent a £11.5 million restoration.

Chunks of marble and sandstone mosaic have been crashing down onto the street from the facade of the High Street venue, which houses a library, museum and art gallery.

Now, council papers reveal "substandard" work during the much-trumpeted refurbishment may have caused the issue.

The report says the front of the historic building in the High Street has been screened off with netting and scaffolding for safety reasons as pedestrians could face serious injury.

The issue was flagged up as a 'financial risk' in the papers, which were discussed in private by the council's audit committee.

It says: "Scaffolding has been erected to carry out inspections which have identified that some of the work carried out during the refurbishment appears to be substandard and large lumps of mosaic have been falling to the ground.

"The cost is not known but could be greater than £500,000 as the repair must be carried out and the extra cost of long-term scaffold hire must be considered.

It adds: "The council is looking at the possibility of being able to claim these costs back from the contractor but this will most certainly have to proceed through a legal process."

Speaking after the committee meeting, Cllr Michael Dixey (Lib Dem) said: "It is very disappointing that something has come so badly unstuck after what I think everyone agreed was a very fine restoration.

"I am just disappointed that it is taking so long to get an independent assessment of what the exact problem is, how to fix it and who might be liable.

"In the meantime we have been left with quite an eyesore covering one of the city's flagship buildings for many months.

"It certainly won't help visitor numbers or the trade of the cafe."

The museum has already reported falling visitor numbers after closing on Mondays to save money.

The scaffolding could now be in place for up to a year while the faults are investigated, listed building work consent sought and the repair work carried out.

The main contractor for the restoration was construction firm Wates Group.

It said it has not been contacted about any issues at the Beaney by anyone from Canterbury City Council.