CANVEY town council has awarded the Canvey Carnival Association £500 towards next year’s big event.

Hundreds of islanders got into the party spirit in July as colourful floats and entertainers took to the island’s streets for the annual event. Now, the town council has presented organisers with the grant to help pay for new collection buckets, high visibility vests and fund the printing costs.

Councillor Doreen Anderson, chairman of the town council, said: “The association organises a popular annual carnival event on the island which raises much-needed funds for charity, so they are a worthy recipient of our grants scheme.”

For more information on the scheme, call 01268 683965.