Littlehampton bench marks are so special

More than 400 wooden slats on the eye-catching seafront seat have been engraved with a wide range of happy, moving, intriguing and celebratory sentiments since the bench was completed almost two years ago.

Now, Arun District Council has made it easier for anyone to make their mark on the 324m long seaside landmark, by selling the reclaimed hardwood slats for engraving, online, by visiting the website www.arun.gov.uk and clicking on the “community and living” link, then “Long Bench”, then “Buy a Slat”.

For £60, the slats can be inscribed with a personal message of up to 68 characters.

If one is purchased for a birthday or anniversary, a certificate is also available.

Until now, those wishing to buy a slat could only e-mail or telephone the council to do so.

The bench is made from more than 9,000 colourful slats which weave and loop between two steel shelters.

Arun’s cabinet member for economic and cultural development councillor Norman Dingemans, said: “The slats capture a snapshot of all aspects of human life, from marriage proposals to anniversaries, births and messages of remembrance.”