The shed where some of Dylan Thomas's most famous works were written is getting a facelift ahead of next year's celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the poet's death.

The small writing shed sits perched high on the clifftop above Laugharne, the picturesque township in west Wales where Thomas lived with wife Caitlin.

The Boathouse and writing shed are important cultural assets

Phil Alder

It is there overlooking the beautiful Taf estuary that he famously laboured late into the night over his poems and he wrote probably his most famous work, his play for radio - Under Milk Wood.

Around 25,000 tourists a year descend on the Boathouse each year but many more visitors are expected in Laugharne for next year's celebrations.

The shed is being spruced up part of a �100,000 programme of general repairs being carried out at the nearby Boathouse over the next few months.

It is the first time the shed will have been moved from its position.

Part of the stone wall alongside is also being taken down and rebuilt.

Carmarthenshire County Council's Arts Manager Phil Alder said: "The Boathouse and writing shed are important cultural assets and a popular tourist attraction."

Dylan Thomas died 50 years ago next year

"The writing shed is being removed because it is in a precarious position for work to be carried out on site.

"We will also be looking at the supporting steel posts while the shed is in the workshop," Mr Alder said.

The work will begin on Wednesday and is expected to last two months.

The shed will be removed from its stilts and taken in sections to a workshop in Llangain, Carmarthenshire.

The contractors will carry out the work with tongue and groove made in exactly the same way as it was for the original shed, and rotten floorboards replaced with wood from that period.

All the original furniture has been restored and removed from the shed until the work has been completed.

The renovation programme is being supported by Carmarthenshire council, CADW and the Wales Tourist Board.