Celebration as Margate's Turner gallery "tops out"

​A ceremony has been held to mark a milestone in the building of Margate's Turner Contemporary art gallery.

Representatives of builders Durtnell and Son and Kent County Council, which is funding the building of the project, shook hands over the top wall of the building as part of the "topping out ceremony", a celebration of the construction of the highest point in the building.

The £17 million gallery was started in November last year and is expected to be completed this time next year, it will then be left for six months to acclimatise before paintings can be installed.

John Durtnell, head of the building firm, said despite the recent strong winds and bad weather, the project was on schedule.

Kent County Council's Mike Hill said: "I cannot tell you how excited I am about today after the trials and tribulations of the last few years. It will not be finished until next year but this is a significant milestone."