One of the new electric trains planned for Southend Pier has been spotted making one of its first journeys along the iconic attraction. 

Echo Camera Club member Dawid Glawdzin snapped a photo of the train making its way down the 1.3mile pier earlier today.

It forms part of a series of tests being carried out by bosses this week on one of the two new trains. 

The testing means there will be no trains running on the pier on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. 

However, the pier walkway will remain open as usual.

It is hoped the new eco-friendly trains will be running and open to the public by February

They will be kitted out with USB points and state-of-the-art audio visual equipment, and replace the existing blue diesel trains which have been running on the pier since 1986.

The new trains were originally due to be in place over the summer but were delayed because of a fault with the paint.

The heritage green and cream livery is a nod to past pier trains which carried passengers along the landmark from 1949 to 1978.

It is hoped parts of the existing diesel trains can still be used, with a former carriage re-purposed for a series of Christmas events held on the pier in December.