ONE of a market town's best loved beauty spots is about to be given a £237,000 makeover for the summer tourist season.

The Fosse, in Richmond, is to undergo a complete overhaul, with new picnic tables and litter bins being installed.

One of the major sections of the project will see the five metre retaining wall next to the River Swale strengthened, restored and partly rebuilt. Work is expected to start later this week.

The wall provides a river edge walkway and seating area, with views of the waterfall just upstream.

Parts of the area, including the picnic tables and viewpoint, have been fenced off since February after a large crack was discovered in the wall.

Hugo Westhoff, of the technical services department at Richmondshire District Council, said: "We did not want the public to stand on the wall looking at the waterfall because there was a possibility of the wall collapsing into the river.

"To be absolutely sure that wouldn't happen we fenced it off while we prepared for the work."

The scheme will involve constructing a new 40-metre long concrete retaining wall at the back of the existing stone wall.

The corner of the stone wall will be rebuilt and the height of the parapet increased.

New picnic tables, litter bins and York stone paving will be put into the pedestrian area at the back of the wall.

The works are part of the dstrict council's strategy to improve area.

The strategy has already seen a new children's play park, which opened last summer, and the ongoing regeneration of Castle Walk.

Patrick Earle, planning and development unit manager at the council, said: "This area is one of the most visited parts of the town and is popular with locals and visitors alike. It is vital to the town's well-being that we keep it looking good and also safe."

The work is being carried out by John Hellens (Contract) Ltd and will take ten weeks to complete.

During this period, parts of the car park will be closed and an alternative pedestrian route will be signposted.