Designs for a much-maligned shoreline development were mocked on the Jeremy Vine Show this morning.

Striking computer generated images of tower blocks proposed for Folkestone Harbour have been described as “monstrous”, with the scheme attracting national attention, and compared to something out of The Flintstones.

Discussing the plans on his Channel 5 programme, Mr Vine held up an artist’s impression of what the towers could look like and asked panellists to guess what they are.

Suggestions included a Greggs pasty and a bugle.

Jeremy said: “It’s like a bugle. What is that? Anyone know what that is?

“It’s drawn criticism because it looks like something from the Flintstones or a donner kebab. Actually looking at that I’m starting to feel a bit peckish.”

One of Mr Vine’s guests on the show, Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, described the design as “horrible” and lamented the lack of green space visible in the design.

However, Mike Parry, another guest, expressed interest in purchasing one of the flats should they go ahead.

Despite first comparing it to a “caveman-like dwelling”, he said: “I think it looks great.

“I think it looks much better than your standard rectangular block of flats.

“I think it’s very attractive and if I had the opportunity I would buy one. I’d be proud to own a place like that.”

The designs were revealed when FHSDC launched a new consultation into the scheme, which is the final stage of its masterplan for the town’s coastline.

They show how the towers would be built on the site of the current harbour arm car park, which is often completely full due to the attraction’s popularity.

The blocks would accommodate 600 new homes along with retail and leisure facilities.

One Folkestone resident, Georgina Baker, has started a petition to “block the blocks”, which she describes as “monstrous”.

“I have been to both previous consultations and I feel like I am saying the same thing again – beyond the sheer scale of the buildings and the shadows they will throw into the harbour, there is absolutely no flow to the designs,” she told KentOnline.

“Why are all of the buildings so incredibly different? One looks like a bongo drum and another like a hornet’s nest!

“There’s absolutely no flow and none of them go with the harbour aesthetically.”