The success of the Turner Contemporary in Margate has been hailed as an example of how investment in the arts can act as a spur to regenerate deprived towns.

Labour deputy leader and shadow arts minister Harriet Harman said the gallery was a leading example of how investment could pay off - but warned that the government's austerity programme meant such schemes were unlikely to be built in the near future.

Mrs Harman was due to visit Turner Contemporary today.

She said: "It is an absolutely great example of real vision for the future, where art can help with regeneration. It was a really bold move because a lot of people were sceptical about it."

However, she cautioned against people viewing the gallery as a solution to the area's social deprivation, saying that it was only one aspect of what needed to be done.

"There is still a long way to go but if you enable people to have a big vision for the future, they can take it forward but it still needs investment," added Mrs Harman.

"What is important is that there is a strong site and a good partnership between local government and local people."

In the first two years since opening, Turner Contemporary, which cost £17.5m, had 850,000 visitors through its doors and has contributed an estimated £14m to the Kent economy.