For all those who have not planned anything for the biggest night of the century, head to Braintree to experience the party of a lifetime.

The Braintree & Bocking carnival committee is currently planning a millennium eve party in Market Square, which is being dubbed the Braintree Experience.

There will be entertainers, performers, a funfair, beer marquee, a service at St Michael's Church and a parade from the church to Market Square.

Some of the groups confirmed as appearing at the party are the Braintree Dimensions band, a dancing school and members of the Music Fun Factory, which is held at Braintree Leisure Centre.

Entertainment kicks off at 7pm on New Year's Eve and continues through to the early hours of January 1, the start of the new millennium.

The event is aimed at the whole family so nobody has to miss out and no-one has to pay for the privilege of being involved in one of the biggest millennium celebrations in Essex.

Chairman of the committee, Robert Watson, said that one of the problems at the moment is that a lot of people still do not know what they are doing.

"A lot of people are leaving it to the last minute to decide what they want to do. This party is aimed at the whole family and should be an enjoyable event.

"We have been organising this for about the past year. The whole thing is free and people can come and go as they please," he said.

There is still time for people to get involved in the evening's entertainment, but the programme is nearly full.

Anyone interested in performing free or who would like to have a charity stall at the event should call David Green on 01376 328027.

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