MORE than £77,000 has been funnelled into Southend’s commemoration of the start of the First World War.

Museum exhibition ‘Southend and the Great War’ will be just one event in a programme funded by £77,900 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Running from August 2 to February 21, it will document the role that Southend played in the war with themes around the Home Front, Zeppelins over Southend, ‘spy fever’ and prison ships moored off the pier.

Armed Forces Day events will also be held over three days with a schools’ day on June 27, a parade and concerts on June 28 and activities on the seafront on June 29.

The funding will also go towards employing an outreach officer for 18 months to work with schools and the community in marking the centenary.

The council’s culture spokesman Derek Jarvis said: “We are privileged and delighted to have received this support from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

“It will allow us to remember the role Southend played in the war, commemorate the residents of Southend who lost their lives and run a series of community based events over the next four years. ”

A full events schedule and more details will be announced shortly.