The owner of a famous actor's former home has dismissed concerns surrounding the building's run-down appearance - insisting it only "needs a little TLC".

Hammer horror star Peter Cushing, who lived in Whitstable for the final 25 years of his life, appeared in countless films during his lengthy career, including Dracula, Dr Who, Frankenstein and Star Wars.

Visitors are often seen gathering outside his former residence on the town’s seafront, near Island Wall, to catch a glimpse of the blue plaque dedicated to his memory.

But fans fearing his legacy is not being protected claim the site has been left to fall into rack and ruin.

However, this has been disputed by its owner, Francis Stirling, who believes the only work required is a paint job and preening overgrown plants.

"Work was delayed due to Covid," he told KentOnline.

"Unfortunately, I have also been ill so I didn’t want to engage in it but it’s entirely untrue the funds aren’t there to deal with the problem.

"Work has already been sorted out which is supposed to be done imminently.

"It is not in rack and ruin at all. It is perfectly sound and it is in reasonable order. I still live there on and off."

Residents and visitors have been left "disturbed" by its increasingly dilapidated state - with out-of-control plants obscuring much of the building.

But Mr Stirling, who has lived at the house for about 20 years, says work to tidy up the site is due to start early next month.

"I understand the importance of the building to the community," he added.

"The work is not going to be extensive and the place is not abandoned.

"I’m not entirely sure how long it will take - maybe three weeks.

"It won’t be drastic, but it will certainly be a difference."

Mr Stirling also stresses the "garden grows furiously well", having given it a major cutback a year ago.

Cushing was a hugely popular figure in the town, well-known for having old-fashioned manners and a good sense of humour.

Despite this, Mr Stirling avers he did not purchase the property because of its ties to the film star.

Mr Stirling added: "I didn’t buy it because he lived there - I just love the house.

"Whitstable is a special place and it is just beautiful."

However, neighbour Michael Bax, 60, noted this week that the home's garden was in “poor condition and rather overgrown”.

Meanwhile another local, Aysegul Coles, has heard passers-by criticise the state of the building.

"Of course, it needs TLC," the 57-year-old said.

"People come to see the house for Cushing, like Charles Dickens in Broadstairs.

"People love to look at it.

"I have heard conversations when people pass by, saying things like ‘I can’t see it because it’s overgrown’ and ‘it’s so sad to see it like this’."

Although Cushing has a Wetherspoon pub named after him and his own display at the Whitstable Museum, there are calls for the movie legend to be given more prominence in the town.

Tourist David Whewell, from Macclesfield, spoke highly of a recent visit to the coast - but as a fan of the thespian, he was left disheartened.

Whitstable Museum trustee Peter Banbury understands Cushing moved to the town as his wife had “delicate health”.

“To see the house in a dreadful state is disturbing," he said.

“As to us doing more, we have plans in the museum to revamp the display because we have film costumes and things in storage - and we want to put more out on display."

He says the museum is “quite surprised” by how many people still come to look at the Peter Cushing display.

Cushing starred in more than 100 films, including more than 20 from Hammer.

He died aged 81 in 1994 at the Pilgrims Hospice in Canterbury.