STANFORD and Corringham Carnival procession wove its way through the centres of both towns and along local estate roads where residents were invited to contribute to good causes.

The carnival left the Giffords Cross open space in the heart of Corringham just after 1.30pm and arrived at a fun day on the Mobil Field in Stanford-le-Hope a couple of hours later.

The procession included representatives from carnivals across Essex and further afield and other entries including vintage vehicles provided by the Blackwater Preservation Group (who are having an open day on Sunday, 17 September - check it out at http://blackwaterpreservationgroup.weebly.com/coming-up-events.html.) Among those taking part was Homesteads councillor Gary Collins who helped marshall the event.

The carnival is raising money this year for Little Havens Hospice and Stanford, Corringham and Tilbury First Responders.

Carnival courts from Witham, Braintree & Bocking, Maldon, Basildon & Pitsea, Dover and Hornsey took part.

It marked the 20th year of the involvement of organisers Dave and Cherie Sergeant but they have announced it will be their last procession, though they still intend to carry on with fundraising for good causes via boot sales and other events.

To date they have raised more that £50,000 from the carnival events.

Dave and Cherie's message could mark the end of the carnival procession.

Dave said: "It's been fantastic and myself and Cherie will miss it but age doesn't stop advancing and we are at the point where it's not practical to go on. We will still get involved with fundraisng but we would both like to thank everyone who has supported the processions ovcer the years and we still hope someone may step up.

As yet no-one has come forward to replace them, so it may well be that today marked the end of an era in the two communities - though the carnival court itself could continue and take part in other regional events as well as the fundraisers.

Many volunteers helped marshall the event today, stopping traffic and collecting along the way and then manning the events at the Mobil Field where there were stalls, inflatables and a dislay area which included displays by local performance groups.