The inflatable King Kong in Marine Terrace, Margate. Picture by Jamie Brooker

He once terrorised the streets of New York but now an amusement arcade wants to make sure King Kong rules Thanet.

The Crown Bingo Club in Marine Terrace had erected a massive inflatable model of the giant ape earlier in the summer.

But they are now set for a gorilla-ing by local bureaucrats - after finding out the chest-thumping effigy needs planning permission!

An application has now been submitted to Thanet council in the hope the 7.6m high symbol can stay - at least for the short term.

The company say it is to promote the new ownership of the venue and create ‘a feeling of excitement’. The retrospective application says it would be inflated between mid-March and the end of September.

There is already a Facebook page calling for it to be saved with over 100 fans.