SOUTHEND’S carnival is back - and promises to be bigger and better than ever for its 111th year.

The popular carnival attracts around 20,000 people to the town every year.

With more than 60 colourful floats, exciting acts, dancers, bands, big costumes and more, the Southend SummerCare Carnival Procession is one of the largest in the UK.

The procession starts at 6.45pm from Southchurch Park, reaching City Beach on the seafront at 7.30pm and finishing on the seafront at Shorefield Road at approximately 9pm.

The best viewing point is at City Beach.

Gemma Cartwright, carnival vice-chairman, said: “We are really excited this year because thanks to Heritage Lottery we have seven floats which preview the history of Southend.

“We have Victorian bathers, the Vulcan restoration, the fire on the pier and the Olympics.

“It is 125 years of the borough so we will be celebrating this through these seven floats.

“They will be spaced out through the procession.”

There will also be majorette groups, a Bolivian marching band which will bring a South American feel to the carnival and other attractions.

Gemma added that after the carnival, they are hoping to make a video of the procession and use that along with pictures of carnivals through the years for a display.

Charities, voluntary groups and businesses all take part in the annual event with brightly coloured floats as they collect money for various charities from donations.

Last year a total of almost £6,000 was raised by carnival participants.

One group who entered the carnival in 2016 was Southend RNLI who, as a charity, depend on local support.

They took part to raise awareness of the RNLI in Southend, collect vital funds for their ongoing work and have fun whilst doing so.

Since entering carnival events in the last three years they have raised more than £5,000.

A spokesman from the Southend RNLI said: “We have a great team spirit at Southend Lifeboat Station, but the carnival brings out the best of this.

“All of us that took part had a lot of fun and enjoyed talking to the crowds that lined the procession.”

Last year, controversially, the carnival was the first in about 90 years which was not led by a carnival court or carnival queen.