MALDON’S Cabbie Day is gearing up to be bigger and better than ever for its return this year.

The East London Cabbie’s Outing, which sees London taxi drivers give up a day’s work to take children with learning difficulties from East London on a day out to Maldon.

Last year organisers were forced to cancel the event due to a lack of taxi driver volunteers, meaning the event was absent for the first time since its inception in 1952.

However, plans are full steam ahead for this year’s 65th parade, with the Maldon based David Randall Foundation, a charity which helps those with life limiting illnesses, agreeing to help organise the event for the next five years.

The charity already have 98 taxies confirmed for the event, with the hope of reaching 110, meaning they will be able to take around 200 children on the trip.

This includes drivers aged more than 70 who will be hiring a taxi just for the outing.

Sponsorship from various companies is also being sought, with 60 already confirmed. The sponsors will have their logos printed onto the cabs when they parade through the streets of Maldon on July 4.

The charity are also working to secure more entertainments and activities for when the taxis drop the children off at Plume Academy and Promenade Park, including DJs, live music and fun game sessions so that the children get the most from their visit.

With the help of David Randall Foundation and graphic designer Chris White, the outing has launched a new look website as well as a Facebook, Twitter and Instagram page.

The team are now appealing for a group of 20 volunteers to help out with preparations for the event and for groundwork on the day.

Volunteers will be taking to the streets of Maldon to distribute flyers and balloon packs to residents to encourage them to display them from their windows for when the parade travels through.

The taxis will parade through Spital Road, the high street, Cross Road and Fambridge Road before dropping children off at Plume Academy for lunch.

Neil Foster, of the David Randall Foundation, said: “I think everyone was really depressed by last year’s cancellation, but now it’s a mission to make this year’s event spectacular.

“It has to be dazzling, colourful and immersive. That’s why we want to get more entertainments and more for the children to enjoy, and incentives for the drivers themselves.

“This is an event which needs to reach 100 years. If we at the foundation can give a great experience over the next five years, there will be enough momentum to push it onwards.”

To get involved with the volunteering, email neil@davidrandallfoundation.org.uk.