One of the first music festivals to be held after the easing of coronavirus restrictions is set to go ahead in Essex later this month.

The event will see a string of well-known names from the music scene due to perform at the event.

Taking place on Mersea Island, the Secret Island Festival will kick off on Saturday July 24 - just five days after coronavirus restrictions are set to be lifted by the Government.

Headliners will include the highly-acclaimed DJ Mark Knight, who joined radio station KISS FM earlier this year, and the YouTube DJ SUAT, whose channel has more than a million views for his DJ performances in bizarre locations.

Ben Wass, 44, who is one of the main organisers of the Secret Island Festival, is thrilled to be putting on the first music festival after the lifting of Covid restrictions.

He said: “It’s really exciting. We didn’t want to put on an event too close to June 21 because it seemed far too much of a risk with the uncertainty going around. We consciously tried to keep it as far away from that date as possible, and thankfully it seems to have come right.”

Mr Wass added the line-up for the event was also an enticing prospect.

“YouTuber SUAT is definitely one of the main guys,” he said. “We’ve also got the Grammy-nominated Mark Knight – he’s our headliner. He’s just been confirmed today, so it’s looking good.

“We’re the first festival to take place when lockdown ends, so we’re really excited to be putting something back on for everybody to do.”

The Secret Island Festival has particular resonance for Mr Wass as he was born and raised on Mersea Island, before setting up his music company Ultrafunkula in 1996.

“Over the last few years we’ve done a few sell-out events in my hometown Mersea, and because of its success we’ve teamed up with a landowner who’s really keen to help us host more festivals.

“This year we’re starting off and in the next five to ten years we’re hoping to expand and expand.”