Less than two months after opening its World War One exhibition, Newhaven Fort has received a glowing assessment from the English Tourism Council.

Its report says overall quality standards at the Sussex attraction have been enhanced since its previous assessment with new additions, including the exhibition and ramps to facilitate access for disabled people and families to the barracks where most of the exhibits are housed.

The fort's staff were described as friendly, helpful and exhibiting excellent standards of customer care while the fort itself was said to easily merit the accreditation.

After piloting the visitor attraction quality assurance scheme in Sussex last year, the fort staff used the assessor's findings to inform themselves about changes and improve the overall experience for visitors.

Many visitors subsequently wrote to praise the exhibition's contents, the staff's enthusiasm and the fort's fair pricing policy.

Manager Ian Everest said: "It is important not to lose sight of visitor needs and expectations and to continually strive to exceed them.

"The assessor comes unannounced and receives the same treatment as our other 35,000 visitors annually.

"If there are areas which could be better, this independent eye helps us to identify them and make changes accordingly.

"Installing the ramp was important because the steep steps made access for disabled people or families with buggies very difficult. We're all pleased we have been able to carry out the improvements with a minimum of disruption."