There is a fabulous masked ball planned for tomorrow night to raise thousands of pounds for Essex good causes.

Arranged by the Essex Millennium Festival, there are still tickets available for the event which will take place in the home of the High Sheriff of Essex.

The masked ball will be hosted by BBC Essex presenter Liz Mullen who said: "This is sure to be a wonderful occasion, with people coming together to celebrate the coming millennium and to raise money for charity."

The evening will be used to launch the Essex Millennium Fund, which is aimed at giving grants to local events that will benefit youth and the environment for the future in the year 2000.

Liz said: "We are planning some exciting surprises during the evening, with the chance to win some wonderful prizes donated by local businesses.

"This is not just an event for the great and the good - we hope that people from throughout our historic county will want to join in the fun and come to the ball - masked or otherwise!"

The ball will be entirely self-financing, and all the profits will go directly into the millennium fund.

The overall theme of the festival has three aspects, a celebration of young people, improvement of the local environment and assisting people in the developing world to help them improve their lives.

A diary and a website have been created by the festival, which are updated regularly. They will allow the festival to promote events under its umbrella, raising awareness of the millennium, helping to avoid date and venue clashes and to provide advice and assistance to those planning events

The ball will be held at Blake Hall, near Ongar. Tickets cost £30 and include a fork buffet by a prominent Essex restaurateur, and dancing to Brian Fredericks. There will also be a cabaret by French born Caroline Nin.

They are available from the festival office on 01245 606901 or e-mail them on: ce@chelmsfordbc.gov.uk

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