A cable car from the castle to the sea could form part of a £3.8m regeneration for a Kent coastal town.

Dover is being given a share of £10m under the Government’s Sea Change Programme. It could mean visitors will be able ride by cable car between the Western Docks and Dover Castle.

The money will also fund improvements at the castle, including updating the secret wartime tunnels.

Commenting on the award, Tracey Wahdan, English Heritage’s Visitor Operations Director for the South East said:"We are extremely pleased that Dover has been awarded almost £4 million from the Sea Change Fund a proportion of which will be invested in Dover Castle.

"The Castle is one of English Heritage's most popular attractions, with over 320,000 people visiting it each year - around a fifth from overseas.

"This funding will enable English Heritage to realise the potential of Dover Castle as one of the finest visitor attractions in England by significantly improving the interpretation of the Secret Wartime Tunnels and the Great Tower.

"This should in turn help to greatly increase the number of people not only visiting the Castle but also the town of Dover. We look forward to working with Kent County Council and Dover District Council on this project."

The Bleriot Monument, which commemorates the first cross-Channel flight, will also be refurbished.

Announcing the grants, Culture Minister Margaret Hodge said: "The Sea Change scheme is all about kick-starting regeneration through cultural investment in our seaside communities, helping to preserve their heritage and encouraging new and exciting projects.

"I’m delighted these fantastic plans are now going ahead.

"Not only will they encourage new visitors to the area but they will also help support and enrich the community.

"These three large grants are the first in this programme and I hope they will inspire other coastal resorts to dream up similar innovative and creative plans."

The other towns are Torbay and Blackpool.