Southend-on-Sea is a seaside resort town that marks the point where the Thames Estuary joins the North Sea, and this year it celebrates its 125 years anniversary.
Leigh-on-Sea has been a fishing village for over 1,000 years, first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Legra - a small fishing hamlet.
The ENDEAVOUR, built in 1926, spent most of her working life as a cockle fishing vessel. In 1940 she was one of six Leigh 'Little Ships' rescueing troops from the beaches at Dunkirk and is the only ship that now survives. More recently she has featured in the critically acclaimed Christopher Nolan's film Dunkirk.
The area is also known for its vibrant music and art scene. Chalkwell Park now hosts NetPark - the first Digital Park in the world run by the arts organisation Metal.
Southend's famous pleasure pier is the longest in the world at 1.34 miles.
The local Hindu community holds one of the biggest Ganesh Puja celebrations outside of India, on East Beach.
'Thousands of people came and did a prayer and then had food, and after the day and evening, when there was a high tide, then we took the idol of Ganesh and submerged it into the sea with all the religious chanting saying "Ganpati bapa moriya. Ganpati bapa moriya".'
Chand Sood
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