Britpop icons Blur could be invited to host a massive homecoming gig in Colchester's Castle Park.

This year will mark the 25th anniversary of the band's seminal 1994 album Parklife, and castle ward councillor Darius Laws thinks the band would be open to returning to Colchester, three decades since they played first gig in the borough.

And if the headliners could be secured, Mr Laws said he would love to see the town host a Britpop themed festival of music, art and fashion, with venues across the town joining in with the fun.

He said: "It would be nice to just extend an invitation for them to do a homecoming gig in the park.

"The park is increasingly attracting bigger names for concerts and what bigger gig would there be than Blur returning to Colchester?

"June's Craig David show is not for me but I recognise he is a big pull for a lot of people.

"We should reach out to Blur and ask them how we as a council could help make it happen."

Blur's songwriting duo, lead singer Damon Albarn and guitarist Graham Coxon, first met at Stanway School before going on to form the band at Goldsmiths College in 1988.

Over their 30 year career they have released eight studio albums, six of which peaked at number one in the UK charts.

In 2009 Blur made their live comeback after a decade long hiatus in front of roughly 150 delighted fans at the Easy Anglian Railway Museum, in Wakes Colne, where they played their first ever gig.

Mr Laws said he knows the band would be interested in returning to the town after a chance encounter with bassist James four years ago.

He said: "I bumped into Alex James in a radio studio. I was working in a different room and I took one of my Blur 12 inches in and asked him to sign it.

"I asked him at the time and he said he would love to play in Colchester again.

"If you do not ask, you do not get and I do not see why it couldn't happen.

"We have the fanbase, we have got the venue and the knowhow. I think it would be a real win for Colchester.

"We are always talking up the heritage of Colchester and the Roman and Norman links, but this is the cultural heritage of the town."

Although stopping short of agreeing to contact the band directly, a spokesman for Colchester Council's Amphora Trading said Blur would be more than welcome to perform in Colchester.

He said: “We are always happy to work with promoters to bring bands and other big name acts to Colchester and would be delighted to accommodate Blur if they wished to perform a homecoming gig in Castle Park later this year.”

Blur have technically been on hiatus again since 2015, however Damon Albarn has admitted the band are likely to perform together in the future.

A spokesman for Eleven Management said there was "no truth to any rumours" Blur would perform in Colchester or elsewhere.