An historic horse trough “badly damaged” in a crash has been restored.

Work has started to reinstall the stone structure, thought to date back to 1903, in Echo Square, Gravesend, which was hit by a car in April.

Gravesham council says it is delighted the horse trough, which was “badly damaged” following the incident, has now been fully restored.

Police were called to the crash at around 3.37am on Sunday, April 28.

The driver, who was taken to hospital for minor injuries, was later arrested and charged on suspicion of drink driving.

Austin Smith, 25, of Dargate Road, Dargate, near Whitstable, is due before Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (October 30).

Gravesham council previously said “the cost will not be met by the borough’s council taxpayers” and it would be pursuing the motorist responsible.

It told KentOnline today (October 28) it does not have a figure for the repair costs but action to recoup the sums involved is still ongoing.

Gravesham MP Lauren Sullivan previously said it was important to “preserve and maintain the borough’s heritage”.

The then-cabinet member for community and leisure added the council was “investigating how this can be done”.

“We are determined the cost will not be met by the borough’s council taxpayers and will be looking to the driver who caused the damage or their insurers to foot the bill for whatever work needs to be done to restore the Echo Square horse trough,” she said.

Traffic management will be in place for the remainder of today and tomorrow (October 29) while teams are on-site installing the monument.

A spokesperson for the local authority added: “This may cause some delays in the local area.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”