THE results of urgent repairs on Dreamland's grade II* listed cinema will soon be visible, as the scaffolding that has covered the site is taken down.

Over the next few weeks the cage of steel around the cinema's 80ft-tall fin will be removed and the newly refurbished vertical lettering revealed.

Under an urgent works notice issued by Thanet council earlier this year, the distinctive 1970s illuminated Dreamland sign has been restored.

Each letter was removed, polished, rewired, painted, and given new bulbs. The letters are now in the process of being remounted and tested, as workers with Canterbury construction company Coombs make their way down the iconic fin.

The Dreamland Trust is also awaiting a decision from Thanet council over whether to replace the regular bulbs used in the sign with more environmentally friendly and longer-lasting LED lights.

If Thanet council agree to the increased initial cost this replacement would entail, it would mean in the future that if one bulb blows, only that light would go out, reducing the dark gaps seen when the sign's bulbs have blown in the past.

The Dreamland Trust, which is behind the plans for the heritage fun park, hopes that at least some of the sign will be visible in time to be part of the town's festive lights this Christmas.