Southend Shakedown is back on after traders helped bail out the popular biker gathering.

After a week of negotiations with Southend Council, Ace Cafe in London has announced the bank holiday Monday event will take place after all.

The organisers of the event, which is set to be its18th incarnation, had pulled the festivities because of policing costs.

But as the Echo reported last week, twenty seafront traders donated £100 each, while Independent councillor Paul van Looy, who runs Grumpy's Diner in Southchurch Road, stumped up the remaining £2,000.

It means that thousands of bikers will descend on Southend seafront at the end of the month.

The cafe has posted on Facebook: "Many seafront traders in Southend who warmly appreciate the Ace Cafe London “Southend Shakedown” have generously supported the event financially in order to help it take place.

"With this income and the facilitation by Southend Council we are pleased to announce that this year’s 18th annual Easter Bank Holiday Monday event is to go ahead.

"Dust off those winter blues, rev up and join Ace Cafe London's first major ride out of the year, the 18th annual Southend Shakedown, departing the legendary North London venue at 10.30am on Easter Bank Holiday Monday 28th March."