A £50,000 bequest to help fund the rebuilding of a historic Whitstable ‘lighthouse’ will instead be spent on a huge model of the town’s harbour.

Brian Porter left the money in his will, in the hope it would help pay towards erecting a replica of a brick chimney which once stood atop an engine house on the East Quay.

The 50ft structure was known as a lighthouse as it tapered towards the top and had a fixed white light visible for nine miles.

It was demolished in 1967 by Whitstable Urban District Council in what Mr Porter believed to be “an act of vandalism”, and it was his dream to see it rebuilt.

But the ambitious plans have been dropped, as the money, which was left to the Canterbury Commemoration Society (CCS), does not stretch far enough to cover the costs.

The majority of the funds - £45,000 - will now be used to build a 120 sq ft model of Whitstable Harbour as it was in 1923, complete with the old brick chimney.

It will go on display at the new South Quay Shed development.

Michael Steed, who co-founded CCS with Mr Porter, said at a meeting of the Harbour Board: "I hope what we are doing now is finding a fitting legacy for Brian Porter - an inspired local man who made quite a career and name for himself.

"I first met him at the University of Kent where he was a retired lecturer in international relations, with quite a career behind him.

"He remains at heart a Whitstable carpenter’s son and Seasalter man who believed the destruction of the original lighthouse in 1967 by the old Whitstable Urban District Council was an act of vandalism, and he wanted that put right.

"With the model, and the lighthouse well displayed in it, I hope we can find an enduring, appropriate thank you to Brian for his legacy."

Harbour Board member Cllr Michael Dixey (Lib) believes the model will be a "terrific addition" to the South Quay Shed.

“It fits in with this quirky image of Whitstable, while reflecting its heritage," he said.

“I think it will appeal to all age groups, from kids to people of my generation.”

Cllr Ashley Clark (Con) also supported the proposals.

But he cautioned: "I would hate to see rushing into the first model that comes along.

"Having owned up to going to the odd model railway exhibition, some of what you see would be brilliant for an infant school, but if you want something that is going on public display, it’s got to be absolutely spot on."

CCS also hopes to include a larger scale model of the harbour lighthouse, which can double-up as a donation box.

Volunteers are hopeful the model will be completed sometime next year, as it will be the centenary of the final coal delivery on a sailing ship to Whitstable Harbour.

The remaining £5,000 of Mr Porter's bequest was previously released to Whitstable Community Museum Group, which used it during its transfer of beam engine parts of the old winding engine house from storage in Canterbury into the museum courtyard for public display.