PLANS have been announced to hold Southend’s first maritime festival on the seafront this summer, supported by the Echo.

Thousands are expected to flock to the town on June 6 and 7 for a weekend of nautical-themed fun events to celebrate the town’s maritime history and heritage.

The event will feature live music, cookery demonstrations by celebrity chefs, wine tastings, rowing and sandcastle competitions, plus history talks by local fishermen and re-enactments.

Graham Longley, councillor responsible for enterprise, tourism and economic development, said: “I’m delighted we have secured funding for this event and I’m looking forward to being involved and part of it.

“We already have a film festival, a folk festival, and a jazz festival, so I am very pleased this year we will also haveamaritime festival to explore Southend’s important relationship with the water and our seafront.

“This will beawonderful event for all the family, with a host of activities to boost the seafront economy. It’ll be a great weekend for residents, businesses and visitors alike. I hope it will be well supported and I’d like to see it becoming a fixture in the Southend events calendar.

“We are a town based on water and we should have a proper festival that relates to the water.”

Budding poets will be invited to take part in a competition, with a chance to see their work published in the Echo as part of the festival, while the pier bandstand will be a focal point for readings from professional writers and performers.

Traditional and modern sea shanties will also be performed, and local choirs will sing.

On the beach, renowned sand sculptor Mark Anderson will be demonstrating his craft and visitors will be invited to design their own deck chair in the Royals shopping centre.

The Great British Bake Off’s Cathryn Dresser will deliver cookerymasterclasses, helped by students from Southend College.

The City Beach area will offer visitors bouncy castles and free entertainment, while seafront traders have organised a food trail along the esplanade.

The Echo is backing the festival as media partner with Radio Essex.

Echo editor, Chris Hatton, said: “Southend has a vibrant programme of events throughout the year and the new maritime festival will be a real boost for the town.

“The programme looks exciting and will be an additional draw for thousands of people.

The Echo is delighted to be involved.”

For details, visit southendmaritimefestival.

co.uk, search for “Southend Maritime Festival” on Facebook, or follow #Maritime Festival #Southend on Twitter.