COMMUNITIES across South Essex are preparing for street parties to celebrate the Royal wedding.

The wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle is taking place on Saturday at Windsor Castle.

While the finishing touches are being put tn plans in Windsor, several streets in South Essex are preparing their own events to help the couple celebrate in style.

Some of the residents organising the parties are experienced in how to host a street event following the wedding of Prince Harry’s brother Prince William or the jubilee celebrations.

Others are taking on the challege for the first time.

Rose Garham, 38, of Leighton Avenue, Leigh is one of the residents arranging a street party with her friend Kelly MacGavin.

She said: “There was a street party in a nearby street for the last Royal wedding and so I thought it would be a nice idea to hold one in our street, I don’t think it’s been done in Leighton Avenue before.

“I put leaflets through doors of the houses in the road and I had a really good response from people, everyone has been so enthusiastic.

“I haven’t done this sort of thing before, but I do have a background in events.

“We are hoping to get some music and a projector set up for the event too.

“The whole road will be closed for the event and we are planning to hold the party from 11am until 5pm.

“We have asked different people in the road to bring along food.

“I think that people don’t talk to their neighbours as we all have busy lives, but it’ll be a nice chance for people to get to know their neighbours much better.”

Angela Riggs, 71, from Kings Park, Canvey, is part of a residents’ committee which is also organising a party at the park.

She said it comes from the old East End of London where this sort of event was always a tradition.

She said: “We are planning to raise money for different charities with our event. We are thinking about doing collections for the Alzheimer’s Society and also for Help for Heroes.

“Many years ago I used to run a pub and we would often hold events like this and would always be doing our best to raise as much money for charity as we could.

“We are planning lots of entertainment including different stalls such as cake stalls and lots of different games for the day.

“We hope the weather holds out and that we have a really good day on Saturday.”

Julie Price, 45, of Voysey Gardens, Basildon is another resident who is working tirelessly to arrange a street party celebration.

She said she arranged a similar event for the Royal wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William back in April 2011.

She said: “Our road is a cul-de-sac and a few of my family live in the road so it’s a real family road and is really nice.

“After the success of the last street party for the last Royal wedding, neighbours living in the road said it was so good that I should hold one again for this wedding.

“What I did last time, and have done this time also, is go to each house and collect £10 per adult who is going to the party. We don’t charge for children and that money pays for the entertainment, decorations and food.

“This year we are going to have so much entertainment including a bouncy castle, which will be on the drives of one of the houses.”

PUBS and social clubs are set to show the wedding live on large screens and projectors with licensing hours relaxed.

Pubs will be able to stay open until 1am on the nights of Friday, May 18, and Saturday, May 19.

Tea Beside the Sea tearooms, High Street, Southend, is holding a Royal wedding Afternoon Tea on Saturday from 2pm until 5pm.

There will be a free glass of fizz, followed by an afternoon tea fit for royalty with a Royal wedding theme.

Tickets are available from the tea room direct, priced at £19.95 per person. 

The Spread Eagle, Victoria Avenue, Southend, is holding its Rocking the Royal Wedding event on Saturday from noon.

There will be fun for all the family with great live music from Mischief from 2pm.

Barnhall Community and Social Club, Alderney Gardens, Wickford is holding a party from noon until 5pm.

There will be plenty of free fun and entertainment including prizes for the best dressed prince and princess, a bouncy castle, face painting, mini disco and much more.

Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery, Chapel Street, Billericay is also marking the special event by asking people to dress as royalty on Friday May 18. 

A number of roads will be closed for the Royal Wedding.

In Southend these include Medway Crescent, Buckland, Leighton Avenue, Seaview Road and Chadwick Road.

On May 19 Hillary Mount, Billericay and The Copse, Billericay and on May 20     Tyelands, Billericay will be closed for the wedding.