Windswept travellers will be able to take shelter from the storm for the first time since the '50s, with a brand new ferry shelter at Tilbury crossing.

Thurrock Council has funded the shelter on the landing stage at Tilbury for the first time in 60 years.

The new shelter is due to a nine per cent rise in ferry passengers over the last year.

Thurrock Council’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund provided £30,000 to build the shelter and the period-style design was approved by the Port of Tilbury, which owns the landing stage, and English Heritage.

The Grade II-listed landing stage has been welcoming passengers crossing from Gravesend for many generations.

Mayor of Thurrock, Councillor Steve Liddiard welcomed the new addition, saying: “Before passengers were really exposed to the wind and rain while waiting for the ferry, and sometimes even the sunshine!"

“This is a great bonus and hopefully will encourage more people to pop over the river to our neighbours in Kent.”

A new leaflet jointly produced by Thurrock Council and Kent County Council called See How The Other Half Lives is also promoting attractions on both sides of the river.

The leaflet is available from: Tilbury local housing office, Tilbury Library, the Civic Offices, New Road, Grays and Ensign buses that serve Tilbury.