AN ODE to Dawlish by Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman has been erected on a wall at the town’s seafront.

The poem, reflecting the town’s red cliffs and railway, is now in pride of place as a plaque on the wall of the viaduct.

It was funded by Dawlish Town Council and has been installed by Network Rail contractors.

Cllr Rosie Dawlish explained: ‘This came about after an admin from Eyes of Dawlish contacted me about a post where a member had shared the poem about Dawlish.

‘The Civic Amenities Committee at the town council was happy to fund this and I worked with Network Rail to find a suitable place.’

Sir John Betjeman’s estate was contacted to grant permission for the poem to be displayed.

Dawlish Town Council voted in May to approve a request to place a plaque by the seafront with Sir John Betjeman poem ‘Dawlish’.

The committee were unanimously in favour and resolved that the plaque be approved with a picture of Boat Cove in the background.