Designs are being drawn up to build Southend's first Hindu Temple.

Southend Council has invited the Hindu Association for Southend and District to build a Temple in place of two former shop units, by the Golden Lion pub, in Victoria Avenue, Prittlewell.

It is believed this site used to be an Indian restaurant, until the business closed after a fire. The derelict shell was subsequently demolished a year ago.

The site has started to attract fly tippers and is currently surrounded by white fencing.

President of the Hindu Association Chand Sood, 62, confirmed negotiations had been ongoing with the council for the past nine months.

He said Hindus had been looking for a temple site for more than 20 years and a spot on the town's main business and administrative artery road fitted the bill perfectly.

He explained: "We would like it somewhere central in Southend and well connected with public transport. We don't want to say too much until it has all been agreed, but an architect is working on the plans."

The building is likely to cater for a wide range of activities, including creche and toddler groups, educational groups for adults and children, as well as acting as a place of worship."

He added: "There were very few Hindus here when I moved to the area in 1965 but that has changed. There are currently around 250 Hindu families living in Southend and district and quite a mixture of the old and young."