Plans have been approved for new tourist information and refreshments kiosks on Felixstowe seafront.

East Suffolk Council's planning south committee granted unanimous approval for the authority's own proposals on Tuesday afternoon, which will see two new beach huts on the promenade.

The tourist information hut will be north east of the pier, on a plinth previously occupied by a fishermonger until it was destroyed in an arson attack in 2019. That will replace two smaller existing beach huts for tourist information purposes.

The refreshment kiosk meanwhile will be located on the south seafront on an empty beach hut slab, and sell drinks and ice creams during the peak season.

The council confirmed the tourist information hut would remain in place all year round, while the refreshment hut will be removed in the winter off-season.

The council in its application said that the new larger tourist information site "will allow larger internal displays, provide space for more information, be more

Covid-secure as there is more space available to move around in than in the traditional huts, and allows the two current huts to be removed from this location".

The plans form part of East Suffolk Council's "commitment to increase tourism opportunities and facilities to make further improvements to this area".

Planning permission was granted unanimously at Tuesday's committee meeting.

Councillor Chris Blundell said: "I think it's an excellent idea and I wholeheartedly support it".

Felixstowe Forward will run the tourist information hut, while the refreshment kiosk is to be leased, according to the plans.

An assessment on coastal erosion has been completed and found no issues with the two locations.

In addition, planning approval was also given for a replacement beach ramp at the sea defence wall on the corner of Sea Road and Orford Road, which the council said will "provide an improved means of accessibility to/from the promenade and Martello Park".