Millennium celebrations are branching out in Castle Point with plans in the pipeline to plant two giant trees.

The council is hoping to buy two Redwood trees for the borough, which could grow up to 200ft.

Residents are being urged to write in with ideas about where they should be planted.

The conifer trees, native to the western USA, will cost about £200 each and will be imported from Italy. Dave Blackwell, deputy leader of Castle Point Council, said: "They will be the biggest trees ever planted in the borough.

"We need somewhere everyone can see them. People could even make donations and have their name put on a chart."

Other things done to mark millennium include a peace quilt made of a number of different squares. Castle Point groups joined to sew the individual patches on the quilt, now hanging in the council offices.

A host of trees have also been planted as part of the council's millennium forest project.

An Avenue of Remembrance has been planted along Canvey Way from the island to Sadlers Farm roundabout in Benfleet.

About 600 poplar trees are now growing, making it the longest tree-lined avenue in the country.

An overwhelming response to the scheme prompted a second avenue along Roscommon Way, where 234 trees were planted.

Suggestions about where the Redwoods should be planted can be sent to Dave Blackwell at the council offices in Kiln Road, Thundersley.

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