A HUGE screen showing live CCTV footage will be put up in Southend over the festive period in an effort to make revellers feel safe about their surroundings.

The projector screen will be set up on Friday and Saturday nights, at a cost of £400 a time, to reassure revellers they are being watched over.

It will display live images taken from CCTV cameras placed across the town, demonstrating how safe it is get home at night.

The project is funded by the Night Time Economy Group, made up of pubs, clubs, community wardens, police and council officers, who want Southend's streets to feel safer.

Tony Payne, secretary of the group, said the screen would be placed outside a different pub or club each night showing clear images.

He said: "It will show CCTV images so people coming out of the premises are reassured.

"They can see themselves on the screen and they can see just how good CCTV is in the town.

"It will show live pictures of what CCTV cameras are looking at at the time.

"It won't display disorder or give people the opportunity to see themselves misbehaving on the screen. It's more reassurance."

There will also be a mobile police station set up for the first time in the High Street over the Christmas period to provide a safe haven, which will be a welcome addition to the support already provided by the SOS Bus.

A number of clubs and pubs have also set up a scheme whereby people can wait for booked taxis inside, rather than walk up the street.

Mr Payne said: "If people are concerned or they are vulnerable they can wait for taxis inside the premises.

"Talk nightclub have people in the foyer so you can wait in the premises. Sometimes there can be as much as half an hour's delay if you are getting a cab at peak times.

"Clubs have taken on more responsibility including deploying door staff to taxi queues, as well."

Mr Payne said the group was now looking to see if there was scope for bus and train companies to put on more public transport services late at night.