And if the £1m art project along the Promenade goes ahead, it could attract worldwide publicity to the seaside resort.

That's the view of Jane Wood, owner of the East Beach Cafe, who dreamed up the bench with her daughter Sophie Murray.

Arun District Council and Gordon Roddick, husband of the late Dame Anita, are also supporting the eye-catching scheme and a bid has been made for £500,000 of funding from the government's Sea Change regeneration programme for coastal resorts.

The bench would stretch from the cafe to the Harbour Park amusement complex, and would include gateway features to allow access to and from the Green.

Children from the town's Connaught Junior School helped London designers Studio Weave work on initial ideas for the bench, and Ms Wood said it would be a project for the whole town.

"I would love to see it happen in Littlehampton.

"Before her death, Anita Roddick said she thought it would be marvellous, and Gordon said he would like to support it as a benefactor, for Anita and her mum."

-----------------------------
Click here to return to Gazette news.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Gazette's international readers' map by clicking here.

E-mail the Gazette: roger.green@littlehamptongazette.co.uk