Beach hut owners in Herne Bay and Whitstable are facing a more than 70% increase in rental fees, it has emerged today.

Canterbury City Council has also announced it will no longer be able to offer discounts to anyone living in the district wanting to buy a beach hut - insisting they have to pay market rate.

The change could be enforced after the council sought legal advice over long-running talks with the Beach Hut Owners' Association.

The council's barrister says they are obliged to run its beach huts on a commercial basis, charging market rent at the earliest opportunity.

It means the yearly £276 and £368 fee to rent a beach hut in Herne Bay and Tankerton could jump to £475 and £650 respectively as of April.

The fees could shoot up by 72% for Herne Bay hut owners and 76% for Whitstable.

The fees have been set by District Valuer Services, appointed by the council, which studied 50 other sites before calculating the market value.

The council has launched a consultation with members due to discuss the changes at an overview council meeting on Thursday, December 5

Executive member for foreshore services, Cllr Peter Vickery-Jones, said: "I am genuinely unhappy that we are having to put these proposals forward.

"We are mindful of how difficult this will be for some beach hut owners and we have done our level best to lessen the impact as much as possible.

"However, we are obliged to take note of the advice given and I hope that owners will understand our position.

"I am keenly interested to hear responses to the consultation and these will be seriously considered in our debate."