A MEMORIAL to King George V has been restored to its former glory thanks to a £30,000 village facelift.

Residents of Wilmington are celebrating their new-look village which has been transformed with turf, trees and levelled pavements.

Paths surrounding the junctions of High Road and Barn End Lane have new trellis work and rusting road signs have been removed.

The coronation memorial a horse trough dating back to 1911 was buried when the roads were widened 60 years ago.

It has been dug up, re-roofed, restored and is now the village's focal point.

The plans were announced in 2003 and took three months to complete.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister gave £25,000 towards the revamp, organised by residents' group the Wilmington Society.

Dartford Council also contributed £5,000.

Ward councillor Derek Hunnisett said: "It has transformed the village.

"It was really disjointed before but now looks unified. We are thrilled."