Worthing seafront could be transformed with palms and lights by next spring in a £150,000 revamp.

A series of initiatives has been drawn up to improve Worthing promenade following extensive public consultation.

Councillors are being urged to bankroll ambitious plans to upgrade Worthing's showpiece area, which has been neglected for years.

Plans include 18 palm-like cordylines, which will have 12ft high trunks, with foliage on top making them even taller.

They will be planted in promenade flower beds, stretching from Splash Point to Western Place.

There will also be nine large 6ft high palms in giant pots in the vicinity of the Denton Lounge and the Lido.

The cost of the planting, which also includes oak hedging, will be £37,000.

Other initiatives include white rope lighting on the ornate lamp standards between Splash Point and Heene Road at a cost of £9,000.

The Pavilion Theatre would also be lit up for the sum of £36,500, with technicians able to change the colour of the roof lighting to make the venue stand out at night.

There are plans to improve the beach shelter immediately west of the Lido at a cost of £30,000, plus the £24,400 replacement of 31 rusting poles which hold up the seafront lights.

Information boards, charting the history of Worthing Pier and the pastime of "promenading" are also envisaged, along with eight flagpoles on the pier.

Campaigners said this was only the first stage of improvements, with more to follow in successive years.

To maintain the momentum, the borough council was bidding to secure £300,000 from English Heritage.

Plans to turn the public toilets opposite the Dome cinema into a cafe sparked a petition containing 2,224 names protesting at the closure.

There was also an outcry over proposals for a privately-funded sea fountain south of the pier below the low water mark.

Councillors meeting on Thursday will be asked whether they want to continue with the cafe and fountain.

Sandra Grant, president of Worthing Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said her members totally supported the seafront revamp.

Tim Preston, the council's economic development manager, said: "It is envisaged a number of other projects could be implemented if resources become available."