Work has begun on building four colourful new sun shelters on Southend’s City Beach to give residents and visitors an attractive new area to relax.

The shelters have been sourced by the council’s in-house architecture team, and the foundation work is now underway.

Councillors set aside £45k for the new shelters as part of the 2018-2019 budget-setting process in order to provide extra recreational facilities to City Beach and add a splash of colour to one of the most popular areas of Southend’s seafront.

James Courtenay, councillor for growth, said: “I’m delighted to see work begin so swiftly for the installation of the new sun shelters for City Beach.

“The shelters offer a space for residents and visitors to relax and get some shade in the hot weather, in a comfortable, relaxed setting.

“With the brilliant visitor numbers over the past two bank holidays now behind us, we can now begin preparations for what is promising to be a bumper summer for the town and for local traders.”

The introduction of the new shelters is the latest in a series of investments announced along Southend’s seafront.

Work is expected to start this autumn the extension of Southend’s pier entrance into a unit previously occupied by an amusement arcade. The new entrance will include improved visitor facilities and enhanced welcome.

In September last year, the Council also announced that it had appointed architectural practice ADP to design a new pavilion on the former bowling deck of Southend Pier.