CHILDREN filled sandbags as part of a Canvey exhibition’s historical re-enactment.

Dozens of people went to the flood mural as part of the Concord Beach Exhibition at the weekend.

It was part of an exhibition of the work of the artists who painted the flood mural on the seawall at the beach.

Colin Letchford, chairman of Friends of Concord Beach, said: “In the aftermath of the 1953 floods, many children helped in various ways.

“Some made sandwiches, others cleaned houses and others were involved in the hard work of filling sandbags to repair the breaches in the seawall.

“Emily McGinnes and Stefan and Fraser Webb, pupils at Castle View School, filled 30 bags and found it very hard work on a warm September day, a far cry from the cold, miserable conditions of February 1953.”

The project, carried out by the Friends of Concord Beach in partnership with the Canvey Community Archive, was sponsored by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.