Essential repairs running into thousands of pounds are being carried out on Dylan Thomas's Boathouse to give it a new lease of life as the 50th anniversary of his death draws near.

Structural work will mean the house, which attracted 20,000 visitors last year, will close from Friday, 31 January until 3 March.

We are expecting a lot of visitors to Laugharne this year for the 50th anniversary of Dylan's death so we need the Boathouse to look its best Mary Thomas, councillor

Re-wiring, new heating, plastering, restoration work on the chimneys, and some decorating is needed at the house, which is owned by Carmarthenshire County Council.

The public cannot visit the house at Laugharne during February because lifts and pulleys will have to be used during the work.

The �100,000 works are the first major repairs at the historic building since Carmarthen District Council carried out work to stabilise the cliffs and replace floors.

It is 50 years since Dylan Thomas's death

The shed, where the writer shut himself away to complete his works, has also been restored in time for November, when his death half a century ago will be remembered.

Carmarthenshire Council is spending �50,000 on the project which is part of a programme of help from Cadw and the Wales Tourist Board.

Councillor Mary Thomas, for leisure and recreation, said: "We are expecting a lot of visitors to Laugharne this year for the 50th anniversary of Dylan's death so we need the Boathouse to look its best.

"It's a very important piece of our heritage and it will be necessary to close it to carry out the works," she added.

Festival year

A year of celebration to mark the writer's death is taking place this year.

Talks, plays, poetry readings and tours around Swansea and its marina are taking place throughout 2003.

Visitors can go to Dylan Thomas's Boathouse as well as his former home in Cwmdonkin Drive, Swansea for specially-arranged tours.

Interactive displays and extra items of interest will be being put on display following the completion of the repair programme.

"There will be more artefacts on display at the boathouse," said the council's head of leisure, Colin James.

"We want to ensure its posterity for future generations."

Dylan Thomas, who died at the age of 39 on 9 November in New York in 1953, is buried in Laugharne's St Martin's Church.