Tens of thousands of pounds is to be spent on repainting Plymouth's most iconic landmark.

The city council is revamping Smeaton's Tower in time for the summer season.

It's the first time in eight years that the lighthouse will have been repainted, in its traditional red and white colours.

Businesses in and around the waterfront are currently being balloted on whether the area should become a business improvement district, which would mean they'd pay a levy for a greater say on how the area is run.

Some firms opposed to the plans had argued the council should pay for Smeaton's tower to be repainted.

It had originally been something the BID would deal with, but the council has now said it will pay the sixty thousand pounds for the repainting.