Major changes are being planned for this year's Southend Carnival procession, after scores of youngsters were disappointed with the 1998 event.

Following a delay on Marine Parade, the procession was very late arriving west of the pier and along the seafront to Chalkwell.

Many parents with young children were forced to take them home before the procession arrived and voiced their complaints later.

Now, the carnival committee and borough council have come up with proposals which will mean the direction of the carnival being reversed.

From this year, it will start at Chalkwell and make its way along to the Golden Mile, with the climax of the whole event being the switch-on of the illuminations and firework display from the pier.

Carnival chairman Barry Godwin said discussions on the proposal had been going on with the police and council chiefs and some minor points of detail still had to be sorted out.

He added: "We were particularly concerned about the number of people, especially children, who were disappointed because of the delays which the procession suffered last year.

"By reversing the flow, it means those with young children, who usually watch the procession from west of the pier will be able to see it and then take their children home."

Mr Godwin said the new route would probably mean the procession would start earlier than in recent years.

"We would be aiming to keep the timing of the illuminations switch-on and the firework display the same."

The illuminated procession at the end of carnival week has for many years started from the area of the Kursaal.

However, the afternoon procession which was suspended some years ago, used to start from Leigh and terminate at Eastern Esplanade.

Not early enough - the procession last year which included EastEnders' Michelle Collins arrived too late for some children on the route

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