A new shrine is set to be erected inside a Hindu Temple.

The project will see the first Ayyappa place of worshop built at the Medway Hindu Mandir as part of plans for major renovations.

Kent Ayyappa Temple, a micro-group of Hindus originating from south India and largely operating within Medway, will collaborate with Medway Hindu Mandir to deliver the shrine.

General secretary for the Mandir in Canterbury Street, Gillingham, Ajay Attra, said: “We’ve got a big project going on in regards to the whole upstairs, we’re re-doing the whole thing.

“We’re looking to have a new murti [deity statue] that will come from India and a new mural put up on the back wall, as well. Then we have a lot of stonework that needs to go up on the shrine, so it’s a big job.”

The project will rely on donations from members of the public and funding support from the council to see through the completion goal of 12 months.

“We had the Keralan community come in and join us and they wanted to have an Ayappa shrine,” added Ajay.

“It’s all through sponsorship from the local community, obviously we need more money and more people to get involved.”

Ayyappan is a Hindu deity that is popular across Kerala and Tamil Nadu and the new shrine will be used to worship him, and other key figures of the religion.