"TACKY" shopfronts will be a thing of the past after Dartford Council puts them under the spotlight.

The council has produced a guide banning retailers who are replacing or repairing units from fitting "bog-standard" exteriors.

The borough-wide Shopfront Design Guide has come into force and the council hopes the plans will rid the town of unsightly shop units.

Anyone who wants to reconstruct a shopfront in the borough will now have to consult the document's strict guidelines.

It sets out historical features such as cast-iron grills or tiling are retained to enhance the appearance of the shop.

The council's Development Control Board will consult the document when a planning application is put forward for a retail unit.

The town centre has a wide range of shopfronts which range from large modern units to older timber designs.

But the council says it will no longer accept "thoughtless" shopfronts from large retail chains which fail to respect the character of the borough.

A council spokesman said: "The guide should prevent thoughtless bog-standard shopfronts going up and much more thought going into the design and how it fits into the surroundings.

"We should start to see less of the plain glass fronts with tacky signs and much nicer fronts which strengthen and complement the character of the area."

Councillor Patsy Thurlow, portfolio holder for the town centre, said: "This is something we've wanted for a long time and it will make a real difference to the look and the feel of the town and Dartford as a whole."

For more information on the Shopfront Design Guide, visit dartford.gov.uk