FAMILIES were treated to a weekend of folk music and real ale at a special event marking English Tourism Week.

The end of Southend Pier was transformed, with a range of stages and bars, for the Spring Thyme Folk and Ale Festival.

The event, which was organised by the Leigh Folk Festival Association and Southend Council, featured buskers, morris dancing and live performances from acts including Micky Denny, Boarding Party, Crafting for Foes, Fran Morter and the Famous Potatoes.

Visitors to the pier were invited to return free of charge before Friday.

The gift was devised as a way of celebrating a bumper start to the year for the pier, with monthly figures in January and February both up nearly 12 per cent on the same time last year.