It's been a busy week on Broadstairs seafront - with film crews and a giant plastic whale making the site its home.

Placed in Victoria Gardens during the shoot, the 10m whale - named Plasticus - is completely made out of waste plastic.

Aimed at raising awareness of ocean pollution, the mammoth model is the Sky Ocean Rescue mascot.

With the whale sat behind the clocktower, crews from Sky Arts took over Viking Bay for two days to record the third and fourth heats of its series Landscape Artist of the Year.

The show, which is in its fourth series, is produced by London and Glasgow based production compact Storyvault Films - which says Broadstairs is a fantastic location for the series.

A spokesman said: "The beautiful sandy beach at Viking Bay is surrounded by Victorian architecture, a reminder of it popularity during the heyday of one of its most famous visitors Charles Dickens.

"The busy beach will provide an interesting challenge for our artists, especially is the sun shines.

"Then from the north of the bay looking south at the harbour wall, fishing boats and the cliffs gives us a classic Kentish coastal landscape -perfect."

Filming on the beach took place on June 26 and 27, with presenters Joan Bakewell and Stephen Mangan.

Thanet District Council worked with the production team to being the programme to the town.

"We would like to thank the local businesses for their cooperation with the crew," a spokesman said.
"This is the second visit to the area from Landscape Artist of the Year - it was previously here in 2016 - and we are delighted that they have returned, for the chance to showcase Thanet again."

The show is due to air on Sky Arts this autumn.