SEAFRONT art, a water park and a cultural trail will all be created in Weston-super-Mare thanks to a Government grant.

The Evening Post reported earlier this month how North Somerset Council was in line for £951,447 to help reinvigorate and improve its seaside resorts.

All the money will come from a £45-million fund under the Government's Sea Change programme, which aims to revitalise the country's seaside towns by investing in resorts' culture and heritage.

First, the local authority will be given a £100,000 development grant to finish the planning, design and commissioning stage of the project.

Then the Government will release a further £850,000.

The council has announced it plans to use the money on three new schemes including a cultural trail, linking Weston seafront, the town centre and central parks.

There will be way markers or a quiz along the trail to encourage people to visit sites such asClarence Park, the museum and Silica.

A water play facility at Park Place will also be included, in conjunction with Weston Town Council, and there will be two six metre arches on the seafront designed by John Maine RA.

A further seven features will be planned by a group including North Somerset and town councillors, members of the business community and residents.

It should all be finished by early 2010.

Councillor Elfan Ap Rees, North Somerset Council's executive member with responsibility for economic development, said the funding would provide the icing on the cake for the improvements already under way in Weston.

He said: "This project will allow us to link key parts of the town centre and seafront and encourage people to visit places that they may otherwise overlook.

"With plans for the Tropicana and Grand Pier pavilion well on the way and the seafront improvements being installed at the moment, Weston will soon be the envy of resorts around the country."

Culture and Tourism Minister Barbara Follett said resorts from all around the English coast would benefit from the much-needed investment.

She said: "The plans put forward are great examples of how investing in our culture and heritage can regenerate our seaside communities.

"I'm pleased that so many seaside resorts around the country have embraced the chance to get involved in the first year of this programme.

"I hope it will continue to be successful, helping to restore pride in our communities and boost visitor numbers to our much-loved coastline."

Weston-super-Mare has benefited from the second set of grants to be awarded in the first year of the £45m programme, which will last for three years and is funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.