Southend's Pier Museum is opening tomorrow, giving the public the opportunity to view the newest painting of the world-famous landmark.

Leigh artist Robert Pinnock has recalled the 1930s in his evocative work entitled Pavilion Sunset.

Commissioned by the Southend Pier Museum Foundation, the oil painting will be on display in the museum.

Foundation chairwoman, Peggy Dowie, said: "We are absolutely delighted with the painting. It is vital we record memories of the pier. We have hundreds of photographs but they are not always taken from the angle you would like."

Another painting of the pier, this time a view from the interior of the car of an electric train circa 1966, has been reproduced as a new postcard. So has one of the museum's most popular exhibits, the toast rack tram.

Mrs Dowie said: "The museum's postcards are very popular.

"Thousands of people collect postcards and buy them for their collections, and many people also like to have them as souvenirs of their visit."

Painted pier - artist Robert Pinnock with his canvass and pier museum worker Marie Dowie

Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

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