Visitors to Pendine promenade can now enjoy the experience even more, thanks to an ambitious project to regenerate the area.

An opening ceremony has been held to celebrate the successful completion of the final phase of the Pendine promenade project.

At the ceremony, Carmarthenshire County Council's executive board member for regeneration and leisure Clr. Meryl Gravell thanked local residents and businesses who have enabled the project to come to fruition.

The opening ceremony kicked-off a day of activities in Pendine which included the Pendine triathlon and lawn mower racing on the beach.

The promenade regeneration project has involved the creation of new public open spaces and landscape features. New bespoke street furniture has been installed which provides ample opportunities for visitors to sit, relax, and enjoy the fabulous scenery on offer along the seafront.

The enhancement works have now created a continuous promenade route along the waterfront that links in with the Wales Coastal Path and other visitor destinations in Pendine whilst enhancing the seaside community and making it a must-see destination for visitors.

Carmarthenshire County Council secured grant funding through the Green Sea Beach Improvement Programme which forms part of the Visit Wales Environment for Growth(EG4) Coastal Tourism Project which is part funded by the Convergence European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.

The council's director of regeneration and leisure Dave Gilbert said: "The promenade and recently completed gateway scheme were developed from suggestions made in the Pendine and Llanmiloe Regeneration Masterplan which was commissioned to address the physical and commercial decline of the coastal resort of Pendine and the surrounding area.

"Following detailed consultation with key stakeholders, the strategic plan was produced to tackle shortfalls in community resource, environmental impact, economic development and transportation. The enhancement of the promenade will help tackle several of those identified shortfalls."

Local member Clr. Jane Tremlett said: "Pendine promenade looks great and I'm delighted that people visiting the promenade have these new facilities to enjoy.

"This will help the village of Pendine to extend the tourist season and act as a catalyst for further investment to develop high quality provision and subsequently achieve all year round tourism."

Executive board member for regeneration and leisure Clr. Meryl Gravell said: "The promenade project has a key overall objective 'to intensify and diversify economic activity within the village; to help attract more visitors and to encourage them to stay longer and visit again'.

"This will create a greater generation of income which will be invested into the local community and its businesses and will ultimately result in additional employment and a vibrant and sustainable coastal resort economy."