A £1.5 million revamp of a bus station has been described as “terrible” after leaks left ugly marks on the walls.

The stops next to The Mall in Maidstone, were the subject of a seven month renovation which was completed in October last year.

The work cost just less than £1.5 million – with Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) funding most of the project – but at the time was criticised for being a “minor spruce-up”.

It was supposed to help make the town “a better place to live” and the bus station a “lighter, brighter and safer place”.

But little more than a year later, large black smears have appeared where water is leaking down the walls.

Parts of the wooden panelling installed last year are bowing and are damp to the touch.

The damage brings back memories of the Travelodge in St Peter’s Street, where rusty marks helped it be crowned Maidstone’s ugliest building in 2014.

Enid Mechan, pictured, from Coxheath, is a regular bus user and says the money wasn’t well spent.

“The pigeons still make a mess on the glass ceiling, and that can’t be good,” she said.

“I didn’t know about the leaks, but obviously it is quite bad here – looks like it has been going on for some time.”

She added: “If you go to Canterbury or Chatham, they have amazing stations. For the length of time our one was closed, it’s terrible.”

Bob Merrey, from Bearsted, was popping in for a few items in town and waiting for his bus back.

He said: “The decor they have done is quite good – it’s a bit lighter and the shelter is more enclosed – but the leaks are disappointing to say the least.

“They have spent a lot of money, and I assume they will be getting the contractors back to rectify it all.

“The wooden cladding that’s been put up – something is seriously wrong. It spoils what should have been a good job.”

People also took to Facebook to express their views on the damage.

One commented: “They did up the shelter but didn’t bother to fix the leak.”

Another said: “£1.5 million pounds for a paint job. Did not address the inadequate drainage or allow for any maintenance.

“Bus station closed for months to do this. Who organised this?

“On the good side at least they did not fit the electric timetables (as promised beforehand) because they have been ruined now as well.”

Changes to the station included better lighting, new floor tiling, seating benches and waste bins, with wooden panelled ceilings in some areas.

Glass panels that used to separate the public walkways from the bus lanes were removed and replaced by low level metal fencing.

The revamp was also funded by contributions of £30,000 each from Kent County Council, Arriva and Capital and Regional, the company which owns The Mall and the bus station.

A spokeswoman for MBC said: "We are aware of a minor latent defect to the design of the ceilings.

"We are working with our design team and the contractor to get this matter resolved as soon as possible."