EVERYBODY needs good neighbours.

And fun-loving villagers have been showing their community spirit by staging socially-distanced street parties.

Residents of Lansdowne Close, in Tiptree, have been dressing up and dancing on their doorsteps since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

They gather on their drives every Sunday, bopping to the likes of S Club 7’s Reach – not to mention a singalong to the iconic theme tune of Aussie soap Neighbours.

Now they have surpassed themselves by sitting in the middle of the road – sticking to their family groups – for a laughter-filled version of party classic Oops Upside Your Head.

Proud resident Sarah Andrews said: “There’s a great sense of community spirit in our road.

“Everyone is game for a laugh and, aside from our parties, we also had fun celebrating VE Day, not to mention the weekly NHS clap.

“I read about some video footage online encouraging people to dance on their doorsteps and suggested the idea on our group chat, asking if anyone fancied it.

“That was about eight weeks ago and we’ve had great fun ever since, dancing to the likes of S Club 7 and now Oops Upside Your Head.

“It’s great fun and people of all different ages, young and old, take part.

“It’s lovely and has made us all smile during what’s obviously been a very difficult time.

“We all look out for each other and it makes me proud to live in such a community-minded road.”

Sarah, who has lived in Lansdowne Close for more than 30 years, sees no reason for the street parties to end.

“I have wondered what will happen but I think and hope we’ll keep partying,” she said.

“We’re a tight-knit community anyway, but this has brought us all even closer.

“It’s lovely chatting to people afterwards, so it would be a shame for it to come to an end now.”

n How have you been surviving the lockdown? Email your photos to mbsdistrict@newsquest.co.uk.