Southend's hopes for a new Olympic swimming pool and a museum to house the Saxon King relics could be boosted by the area's inlcusion on a Government list of the country's top economic hotspots.

The Thames Gateway development zone is one of five areas singled out as areas in need of cultural and sporting facilities to match their growing economic clout.

Iain Wright, junior minister for housing, announced the list, which also includes the South West, Corby, Portsmouth and East Lancashire.

He said: "We want to know what people want from their communities and how best to create the places where we all want to live, work and invest.

"By working together at central, regional and national level, we can learn valuable lessons on how to build communities."

David Garston, Southend councillor responsible for tourism and regeneration, welcomed the news.

He said: "We are the cultural and educational hub for Thames Gateway in south Essex.

"We have a newly-built college. So much else is going on for Southend and there is so much we are trying to do. We're looking for funding now for the new swimming pool and a new museum."

However, Mr Garston stressed the most important thing remained the need to improve the local economy.

He added: "What we are trying to do is use art for regeneration and trying to make sure the deprived areas aren't left out."