The reopening of the historic Margate Caves has taken a step forward with more then £7,000 being raised at a secret postcard auction.

More than 80 artists including Tracey Emin, Paul Hazelton and Dawn Cole created original postcard sized artworks to feature in an exhibition and auction.

To reflect the mystery of the caves, the postcards were exhibited with all the artists’ names kept secret.

The cards were auctioned off on Saturday, September 16 in Margate’s Harbour Arm Gallery at 2pm.

Margate Caves were closed in 2004 and since then a campaign has been ongoing to reopen them.

This year, it was announced that successful Big Lottery and Heritage Lottery Fund bids totalling £1.5 million meant a new visitor centre and village hall for Cliftonville could be built and the historic caves reopened.

The group has planned an ambitious mixed-use scheme for the site. Designed by award-winning architects Kaner Olette, the building received planning permission in 2015. It is expected to open in 2019.

Lottery funds will be used to build a new visitor centre, including a community cafe, refurbish the caves, and provide much-needed community facilities.