Work could start as early as next month to repair Maryport’s lighthouse.

Allerdale council is waiting for paperwork from the Environment Agency before restoration of the structure can begin.

A spokeswoman said that no definite date can yet be given, but that work was expected to begin in the autumn.

The council’s property team is managing the renovation of the historic lighthouse on behalf of the Love Maryport Team.

An Allerdale spokeswoman said: “It will be painted inside and out, and a corroded steel panel, which is not original, will be replaced with cast iron in keeping with the rest of the building’s fabric.

“This structure is believed to be one of the oldest cast iron lighthouses in the world and we are really pleased to play a part in looking after it.

“We are currently awaiting Environment Agency permission to proceed – a permit is required because the lighthouse is next to a water course – but we expect work to begin in the autumn.”

The town received a £50,000 grant from the Government’s Coastal Communities Revival Fund to restore the lighthouse.

Allerdale’s building surveyor has previously said that one of the biggest tasks will be getting the scaffolding up, as it is so close to the sea.

Town centre manager Toni Magean hopes to create an information board about the history of the lighthouse.