Southend’s beacon has official been lit in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The special ceremony was held tonight at the Southend Cenotaph, Southend Cliff Gardens, Clifftown Parade, Westcliff.

Echo: Dignitaries - Southend West MP Anna Firth, Council leader Stephen George, mayor and mayoress Kevin and Debbie RobinsonDignitaries - Southend West MP Anna Firth, Council leader Stephen George, mayor and mayoress Kevin and Debbie Robinson

It drew a huge crowd with hundreds of residents turning out to see the momentous occasion.

There were more than 1,500 beacons lit across the nation and Commonwealth tonight, the first evening of the four-day Jubilee weekend.

It began with solo piper and musician Iain Allen, performing Diu Regnare by Stuart Liddell. The same music was performed by every piper across the UK at the other beacon lighting events.

This was then followed by the bugler call by brass player David Hurrell who performed “Majesty”, again in line with the national programme.

Echo: Draw - The huge crowdsDraw - The huge crowds

Then after the beacon lighting a choir of more than 70 singers from city choirs came together to form the “Southend City Chorus” performing a specially commissioned “Song for the Commonwealth, A Life lived with Grace.” The music was by Vincent Atueyi Chinemelu and the lyrics were by Lucy Kiely.