A WOMAN who claims animals talk to her is set to reveal the secrets Southend's pets have told her.

Animal healer and communicator Margrit Coates, 57, is featured on new TV series Animal Roadshow and her exploits speaking to dogs in Southend will be broadcast soon.

Five episodes of the show were filmed on the seafront and in the Victoria Plaza, where Margrit confronted amazed pet-owners.

She said: "One dog on the seafront told me she was nervous because it was her first time on the beach. When I asked the owners, they said it was true."

She said other dogs told her they had been rescued and gave her information they felt their new owners should be aware of.

Margrit, who lives in Hampshire, said she communicates with animals by studying their energy levels - a talent she says humans have mostly lost, but can be regained with practice.

She was based in a yellow marquee by the seafront, where visitors could bring their pets to see Margit and her team.

Margrit said: "Filming in Southend was great fun - it was my first time there.

"It was a lot more modern and upmarket than I expected. I liked the shopping centre and I thought the sea- front was quite sensational, with the pier and everything on it."

The episodes, which were originally set for ITV, will now be shown on the Animal Planet channel.

The series started on Saturday and the Southend episodes are expected to be broadcast at 6pm on Saturday, November 17 and Sunday, November 18.