TOURS, information brochures and art exhibitions to celebrate the Essex coast could all take place as part of a new tourism strategy.

The Essex shoreline is being been branded the Discovery Coast by the county’s tourist board in a bid to attract more visitors.

Visit Essex, Essex County Council’s tourism team, hopes the title will give the coast a strong identity.

Elli Constantatou, tourism marketing and public relations manager, said many events and ideas are in the pipeline to help encourage tourism to our coast.

She added: “This year I am going to try to work with established events taking place along the coast and next year we hope to produce a leaflet filled with information about the Essex Coast.

“In the future it would be a possibility to run trips and tours in collaboration with businesses along the coast.”

Activities and attractions are already listed on the Visit Essex website.

Further ideas include a competition focused around photography and art, culminating in an exhibition.

Ms Constantatou said: “Each destination has a different character.

“Harwich has a strong maritime history, but you also have the sunshine coast, areas with water activities and amusements.

“The Discovery Coast includes eight Blue Flag beaches, historic monuments, towns with a rich maritime history and two of the country’s longest piers.”

As part of the Discovery Coast campaign, mini art exhibitions are being held at points along the coast, including Leigh, Brightlingsea, West Mersea and Jaywick.

Signs with the Discovery Coast logo will be displayed at the events, which run from today until Sunday.

Members of the public are encouraged to go along to find out more about what’s available to see and do.

For more information, visit www.visitessex.com/ discoverycoast