Campaigners behind plans for a 'first of its kind' sea sauna are urging donors to make one final push to help meet their crowdfunding target.

The Folkestone Sea Sauna community group is seeking to raise almost £22,000 to fund the installation of the Scandinavian-style facility at the rowing club on Sandgate seafront.

Campaign organiser Peter Blach, who is originally from Denmark, hopes the project will lead to the creation of an electric-powered sauna which can be used by the community of sea-swimmers in the town.

The aim is to transform a rundown garage-like storage building at Folkestone Rowing Club into a sauna with room for 12 people at any one time.

It would be open every day during the winter months and access would be unlimited for members of the club paying an annual £75 membership fee.

So far supporters of the plans have pledged almost £15,000, and the prospects of hitting the target have been given a boost by funding from Kent County Council (KCC) as part of its CrowdFund Kent campaign.

Mr Blach, who is a regular sea-swimmer, said: "We are truly grateful to everyone who has contributed to the sea sauna so far.

"The community support is the reason KCC has chosen to back the sauna as well.

"This incredible community asset is so close to becoming a reality and we urge anyone thinking about contributing to do so soon as we need to achieve our goal by July 18."

The idea of a sauna on the seafront is not entirely new to the UK, and in recent years a number of wood-fired saunas have sprung up on the coast.

Organisers of the Folkestone scheme say theirs is a 'first of its kind' because it would not be run as a private business.

The aim is for membership fees to be kept as low as possible, just enough to cover the running costs.

Because the sauna will be heated by electricity, rather than wood, it is easier to run and maintain – which also helps to keep the running costs down.

To back the campaign, visit the crowdfunding page by clicking here.

The page is due to remain live until Monday, July 18.