SOUTHEND’S beloved Salvo the clown has been immortalised in a piece of “smashing artwork” as part of the City Jam street art festival.

Artist Andy Downes chose to honour the popular clown - who can regularly be seen sitting outside the Ironworks in the High Street - on an artistic creation outside of the Southend Central Museum.

Salvo visited the piece of art on Sunday and was honoured to be included.

Echo: Handshake - Salvo meeting artist Andy DownesHandshake - Salvo meeting artist Andy Downes (Image: Gaz De Vere)

It comes as Southend was covered in bright artwork and lively murals as part of its second annual City Jam Festival - which saw more than 200 artists descend on the city.

He said: “It’s absolutely brilliant that I’ve been included once again.

“Last time I was featured on hoarding near to the ABC Cinema, so I’m over the moon and grateful the smashing artwork of me is on a bigger instillation.

“I hope one day I’ll get a mural of myself underneath the bridge.”

Southend City Jam, which was billed as the biggest street art festival in Europe, ran from Friday to Sunday.

It saw talented artists from the UK and around the world splatter paint on the seaside resort to make it more vibrant.

Many people also got to watch first-hand as the work was created, as well as interact with the painters, with visitors hailing it as an “inspiring weekend for all”.

This was the second annual City Jam festival, and it is hoped the event will return next year as well.

Last year Salvo marked 25 years of spreading happiness in Southend High Street.

He first appeared in 1997, however, he ran into difficulties during the early period and was ordered to shut down on many occasions by the council trading standards teams who told him he could not collect donations in the area.

In 2016, Salvo was left badly shook up after a man and a woman stole money from his case after he was entertaining shoppers.

Away from entertaining, he has also baked “clown cakes” for the homeless and vulnerable at the St Vincent’s Centre in Short Street.

Salvo has been based in the region longer than his profession, having lived at the Hart Road mobile home park, in Thundersley, since 1978.