Hindu worshippers took part in a festival celebrating the most important date in their calendar in Shoebury.

The Ganapati Visarjan ceremony, celebrated by millions of Hindus in India and around the world, took place for the first time on Shoebury East Beach.

Organisers believe more than 2,000 people packed the shoreline to see the ceremony on Shoebury East Beach.

The festival, the most important in the Hindu calendar, was to celebrate the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god.