A major new Canvey festival could take the island by storm next year.

The summer fiesta would replace the former Canvey Carnival which stopped last year after a 75-year run.

The new event, which is hoped to rival neighbouring Southend Carnival, will be organised by Monico Leisure and is likely to be backed by the seafront regeneration group, Canvey 2000.

Funds raised would help revamp Canvey seafront and support charities.

Dennis Williams, chairman of Canvey 2000, said: "I've had a meeting with Derek and Suzanne Gray from the Monico and they were very enthusiastic indeed.

"We're looking at a new theme and I think it would be called something like the Canvey festival. It would have a very similar route to Canvey Carnival. We hope to write to all island schools to try to get them involved and appeal to all different age groups, and hope to persuade a group from the Notting Hill Carnival to get involved, too."

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