COUNCIL plans to renovate an 800-year-old castle are expected to boost and regenerate Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire into a major tourist attraction.

Pembrokeshire County Council is pumping £17.7 million into a refurbishment of Haverfordwest Castle in a bid to transform it into what authorities hope will be a major tourist attraction in west Wales.

The 800-year-old fortress will be temporarily closed until 2028 as it undergoes restoration in plans that include space able to host open-air events for 500 people.

The council said it could act as an important hub for tourists — it estimates about 63,000 people will visit the town in the project’s first year — and will signpost visitors to other key heritage sites around the county.

A council spokesperson said: “The attraction will not only bring its remarkable history but will also act as a catalyst for the regeneration of Haverfordwest.”

The site was stablished in about 1120 by the marcher Earl of Pembroke according to most sources, though the first mention of the castle was not until 1188;  its early earth-and-timber construction was replaced with stone at the start of the 13th century.