The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Queen and David Bowie - all legendary artists that have played some of the most iconic gigs in the history of popular music.

But these household names have all played venues in south Essex over the course of their illustrious careers.

In 1963 alone both the Beatles and Rolling Stones played the old Odeon Cinema in Southend High Street.

Today marks 55 years since the launch of The Beatles first single ‘Love Me Do’ and we look back at the days The Beatles came to town.

Echo:

Sally Ross, 11, from Westcliff, meets the Fab Four in Southend

Day 13 of the UK tour with Roy Orbison took The Beatles to the Odeon Cinema in Southend. They performed a set consisting of seven songs: Some Other Guy, Do You Want To Know A Secret, Love Me Do, From Me To You, Please Please Me, I Saw Her Standing There and Twist And Shout.

Echo:

Meeting Muhammad Ali – 1964

The Beatles performed at the Odeon Cinema on one other occasion, 9 December 1963.

This was The Beatles' second and final concert appearance in Southend.

BBC television news crew were also at the Odeon Cinema on this day and interviewed The Beatles in their dressing room.

Echo:

John Lennon’s psychedelic Rolls Royce – 1967

The Beatles are still loved today. It was reported in Jan 2016 that The Beatles songs have had over 250 million streams, with a majority - nearly 80% - from people born after the bands break up in 1970.