AN ARTIST appointed by North Somerset Council to help enhance the appearance of the seafront defences has unveiled his first images.

AN ARTIST appointed by North Somerset Council to help enhance the appearance of the seafront defences has unveiled his first images.

Sculptor John Maine RA will work with the design team to make the sea wall part of the £29million project attractive to residents and traders along the waterfront.

Mr Maine held a meeting with the town's Hotel and Restaurant Association concessionaires and other interested parties on Tuesday where he revealed new images of how the promenade could look after the work is completed.

Plans still in their infancy include archways over access points in the splash wall, which will be 1.5m high between the car park next to the Old Colonial pub and Park Place Putting Green.

The artist also intends to place wave-inspired seating next to Waves Restaurant in Marine Parade.

Council officer Rachel Lewis, who is helping to coordinate the project, said the first phase, to repair the causeway, add sluices, replace steps with ramps and to enlarge the beach at Marine Lake was due to be completed by the end of April.

Sand has been taken from other parts of the beach and the site will be dredged next week.

The next phase, from April to September, involves adding a 'toe' to the bottom of the existing sea wall between Knightstone Island and the Grand Pier at a cost of £1million, to prevent it from being eroded.

The following part of the project, which includes strengthening the existing sea wall from Royal Sands to Marine Lake by driving steel poles into the existing structure, is due to be finished in 2010.