A TV personality has added his name to campaigning group dedicated to reopening and restoring Coalhouse Fort, the landmark historic building by the Thames that has been controversially mothballed by cash-strapped Thurrock Council.

The authority closed the doors on the Napoleonic fort and visitor attraction at East Tilbury in January 2020 after the folding of the voluntary preservation group Coalhouse Fort Project - which had run the site in collaboration with the council since 1985 - an event not without rancour and high emotions.

Since then the Fort has been left with little maintenance and, behind its locked doors, has reportedly fallen into a state of decay.

Two groups of volunteers have been vying for the nod from Thurrock Council to help reopen the site. One is Coalhouse Fort Future and the other the Coalhouse Fort Historical Society.

The two groups have differing views on the future and have occasionally clashed, prompting some observers to comment that has left the opportunity for Thurrock Council to sit on its hands and do nothing

Last year the chair of Thurrock's Local History Society, Susan Yates, damned the authority for its lack of commitment to heritage.

However, the Historical Society continues to highlight the Fort and garner support.

Its patron is 'Allo, Allo' actor Guy Siner and now it has announced auctioneer, chartered surveyor and television personality Charles Hanson as an 'ambassador.

He is best known for his appearances as an antiques expert on the television programmes Bargain Hunt, Flog It! and Antiques Road Trip.