MORE dazzling light displays have been unveiled ahead of the return of Southend’s hugely popular LuminoCity festival, with stunning lights set to be dotted through city.

The lights festival will return to Southend from February 16 to 18, lighting up the High Street and seafront with a series of attractions.

Now, a number of new illuminations have been unveiled that will be included in the festival.

There include Emergence, which is made up of mirrors; Halo, a tower of interactive light rings; and Lightbattle; a colourful arch powered by bikes.

Carole Mulroney, Lib Dem councillor for tourism, said: “I am absolutely delighted we are bringing LuminoCity back for a second year with new, improved and wonderful light displays.

“I am sure everyone will enjoy it and I hope the weather is kinder to us this year. It’s going to be bigger and better and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it last year.

“This is huge for Southend and will be the sort of thing we will be known for putting on a really good show.

“People come back to see what other events we are holding and we’ve managed to establish a programme of events that bring lots of people in.”

The event last year saw more than 200,000 visitors attend. This year’s illuminations are being sponsored by Southend Bid, Forward Motion, Southend Tourism Partnership and Atlantic Pacific Group.

Displays returning for this year include Scribble Trees, Light Benches, and Disco City.

Another new addition for this year is Ursula Lassos the Moon, a 3D realistic Moon lassoed to a stake in the ground.

Mum-of-three Kimberly O’Connell, 47, from Eastwood said: “I think it’s great and anything that brings people into Southend is a good thing.

“I think it’s brilliant and with the cost of living crisis we all need some cheering up, especially at this time of year.

“I think it will be as popular as before and I will be heading down. I also think it’s good for businesses too.”

Southend’s illuminations were started in the 1930s originally and at one point were judged the third best in the world. However darkness fell on the seafront in 2007 after the authority said it no longer had money for them.