SOUTHEND’S famous seafront illuminations along the Golden Mile, once drew in huge crowds.

Echo:

Picture from the Echo's archive - 1969

In their heyday, they were said to be the third best in the world behind Coney Island and Atlantic City in the US.

Echo:

Sadly the plug was pulled on the costly lights in 2007, but the Echo has found these pictures to evoke memories of the past.

Echo:

The late Wendy Richard, with the Mayor of Southend, Ken Cater, switching on the lights

Southend Council installed several illuminating lighting structures on the seafront as part of the City Beach revamp in 2011, but few would judge them to be up to the splendour of the old lights, which first graced the seafront in the 1930s.

Echo:

Despite traders wishing them back in order to attract trade, sadly there is little chance of a comeback of this particular bit of treasured Southend history.

Echo: