Ideas are needed to improve east Kent towns as the international spotlight shines on the area for The Open golf championship next summer.

A committee has been formed, made up of officers from councils in the Dover, Thanet and Canterbury districts.

They are brainstorming ways to improve the towns in time for the competition, between July 14-17, helping to attract more visitors and money.

People with ideas for Sandwich should telephone Sandwich town clerk Tracey Ward on 01304 617197 and for Deal 01304 361999 or call into Deal Town Hall in the High Street.

Meanwhile, residents who can offer bed and breakfast for visitors to The Open golf championship are urged to register on a new website.

The district council is busy topping up its list of available accommodation. The website lists all accredited Kent hotels, guest houses and local residents willing to take in guests.

There is a £60 registration fee to become a temporary accommodation provider.

More than 180,000 spectators staying between one and seven nights attended The Open when it was last staged in Sandwich in 2003 – contributing an estimated £17.6 million to the area’s economy.

For further information, call the DDC tourism team on 01304 240477.

* For full story buy the East Kent Kent Mercury, Thursday, August 19.