A FETE to bring harmony into a village divided by planning developments is being held today.

The first Marks Tey Village Fete will hopefully bring some much-needed community spirit and harmony to the village which is feeling the pressure to expand with the largest garden community proposed there.

There will be nearly 70 attractions including pony rides, a petting zoo, games and inflatables and lots of traditional stalls like tombola and of course, beer and food tents.

More than 50 craft and business stalls will line the Parish Hall on Old London Road.

Live entertainment from the likes of a marching band, Ceroc and Starlight dance groups, Korean karate and martial artists will perform throughout the event, plus Medieval musician Elizabeth Gutteridge, from 12pm until 4pm.

Parish councillor Susan Moakes-Cooke has been working with volunteers on the inclusive event that will showcase how far the community has come, she explained.

She said: "With the Local Plan fiasco, pressure from Colchester Council to turn Marks Tey into a garden community, there's been mounting pressure that we should come together and become more of a community because so many outward forces about to change where we live.

"Everyone really wanted a summer fete so I thought, 'Why not?' Apparently one hasn't happened for at least ten years.

"The reaction, therefore, has been amazing - absolutely overwhelming.

"When we first began organising the fete, we thought it would be five of us and several pots of jam but I've been pleasantly surprised."

All the money raised will support community-focused projects such as Marks Tey's summer picnics and its Young at Heart group for over 50s.

Volunteers from Marks Tey, Little Tey and Stanway have got involved in organising what will hopefully be an annual addition to the events calendar.

Councillor Moakes-Cooke added: "Marks Tey is very odd place as it's been dissected by the A12, A120 and the railway line has literally cut the village in half.

"There's a gentleman who calls it the earliest Roman commuter town because people move there to travel somewhere else.

"That was very much how it was but now it's starting to feel like more of a community."