CELEBRATIONS hailing Colchester's new-found city status could include a £15,000 plan to stage a reconstruction of a civil war battle to mark the Siege of Colchester.

Pam Cox, Colchester councillor responsible for culture and heritage, unveiled a host of ideas for marking the historic occasion across the coming year.

A report to go before the authority's cabinet said the theme would be titled 'Our City Through Time'.

It added: "This involved making the most of local historic assets, celebrating the area’s different eras by holding themed events, and looking to the future, to include the Colchester Future Generations Commission.

"An example of the events being explored was to hold a full civil war battle reconstruction to mark the Siege of Colchester, potentially involving the Business Improvement District and likely to cost around £15,000."

Colchester will formally become a city on Monday, September 12, when the letters patent are presented to the mayor.

The letters are legal instruments generally issued by the monarch granting an office, right, title or status.

In May it was revealed Colchester would be getting the status as part of the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations.

Usually, city status is made official during a royal visit, but in Colchester's case the letters will be handed over without the presence of one of the senior royals.

Instead, Colchester Council hope a royal visit will come in 2023.

A special full council meeting will be held on September 12, with a civic reception to thank all partners and organisations which contributed to the successful bid.

It is understood a civic procession of dignitaries and councillors will precede the reception, moving through the city centre and to the Town Hall.

At the meeting, the letters patent document will be formally received and the council will change its name with immediate effect from Colchester Borough Council to Colchester City Council.

Andrew Weavers, monitoring officer, previously told a meeting: “The extent of the city will be the same as the borough and includes all rural areas.

“Parishes and town councils will retain their status and will be unaffected, except they will be a parish or town council within the city of Colchester as oppose to being within the borough of Colchester.”