Scaffolding is now covering the whole of one of Maidstone’s most prominent buildings as part of work to rid it of unsightly rust.

Contractors began the long process of putting up the scaffolding around the Travelodge in St Peter’s Street three weeks ago.

Steel girders will now be removed, as they were left untreated when the building was first built ahead of its opening in 2010.

It was this that caused the rust to run down the exterior walls.

They will be replaced with aluminium girders throughout.

The sight of the work getting under way is satisfying for borough councillor Dan Daley (Lib Dem), who fought to get something done about the problem.

He said: "I am delighted that it is happening.

"It is a very expensive job, and it is in a very prominent position."

The KM reported back in February how Cllr Daley had put pressure on the building’s owner, a pension fund that leases the property to the hotel chain, to get the problem fixed.

It took several months of dogged detective work for Cllr Daley to find out what had not been done during the construction process which was causing the rust to stream down the outside of the building, and to find out who was responsible for getting it sorted.

The building had been repainted once, but the rust returned.

The work is expected to take between 12 and 15 weeks, which would mean a completion date of mid-September.