Colchester's military tattoo could make a comeback.

The much-loved annual event had a 25-year history, with thousands of people flocking to see the week-long displays.

But in 1990, defence spending cuts meant the show could no longer continue.

Now MP Bob Russell has made a request to the Government which could see the tattoo returning to Colchester under a different name.

After the decision to end the Royal Tournament, defence secretary George Robertson announced yesterday in future there would be a military festival staged outside the capital in different military locations.

And Mr Russell has seized on this opportunity to bring the military show back to the town by tabling three questions asking the Government to consider Colchester as one of the venues.

His questions include whether the first military festival could be held in Colchester, whether the millennium royal military tattoo will be staged in the principal garrison towns and what exactly is meant by the names military festival and military tattoo.

Originally the tattoo used to be held in the lower Castle Park, but was later moved to Abbey Fields for security reasons.

It was cut to a bi-annual event before being scrapped altogether.

Mr Russell said: "Sadly, with the demise of many of our military bands, it is highly unlikely that we shall see in Colchester the massed ranks of bandsmen and women which we had in the past.

"Nevertheless the thought that our much-prized Colchester Tattoo will in one form or another once again be a spectacle is something which I know most townspeople will welcome."

For many years Westley Sandford worked on the Community Fund which joined with the military to organise the tattoo in Colchester.

He said: "It used to bring thousands of people to Colchester which was a good thing for the town. We are ready and waiting to help out when they do bring it back."

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