Campaigners are celebrating after one of a town's hated parklets has been removed.

The controversial seating was taken away from Castle Street, Dover.

Its placing there caused particular local anger because it was seen as spoiling an otherwise picturesque setting.

Adeline Reidy , of the Castle Street Area Society, said: "At last it has gone. It has taken five weeks.

"I think it's important that Kent County Council listens to local councils and residents before spending very valuable money."

The new street seating, put in by KCC in February and costing £90,000, was straight away branded an eyesore by Dovorians.

One set, for Cherry Tree Avenue, has not been placed at all since the row erupted.

KCC told the Mercury the location was now "under review" but the other three, two in Biggin Street and one on the High Street, are staying but will be decorated.

Made from recycled plastic from the sea and bland light brown, they were supposed to attract more people to the town centre as it struggles to economically revive after the country's third coronavirus lockdown.

But KCC was slammed over both their appearance and not consulting with the public first.

Mrs Reidy said the elegant Georgian Castle Street was especially the wrong place because it is a conservation area with listed buildings.

She added that they took away much-needed parking spaces.

The parklets, the first of their kind in Kent, also include plants and provide spaces to park bicycles.

They were paid for with public and private money.

Straight away they attracted criticism on social media with members of the public saying they looked like "fly-tipping" and "cardboard boxes."

Several district councillors were also against them.

After initial criticisms KCC said the process of using recycled materials such as these created a more plain or raw appearance.

But it argued that it had to leads by example using responsible and sustainable sources to achieve our environmental targets.

Read more: All the latest news from Dover