Kent County Council will spend whatever is needed to recover some of the millions of pounds it lost on the first failed version of the Turner Centre in Margate.

The pledge was made by county council leader Paul Carter (Con) after it was revealed this week how the authority had racked up a legal bill of more than £600,000 in its efforts to recoup money from the architects who designed the first version of the arts centre.

The costs have more than doubled in the space of a year.

Cllr Carter was tackled about the spending during Thursday's budget meeting at County Hall when opposition Labour councillors demanded to be told how much more money would be spent pursuing the case.

Unless a settlement is reached before June, the dispute will have to be determined at the High Court.

Cllr Carter told councillors he was optimistic the money would be recovered but declined to say how much more might be needed.

He said: "It is no secret that we are pursuing a claim and with the best legal advice. We have a first class case that is coming to a conclusion and it is a conclusion that will put a smile on the faces of all members of this authority.

"We will spend whatever is needed to bring it to a conclusion and I am sure it will be a positive one."

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