Happy families are letting the train take the strain along Southend seafront, thanks to a new ride.

Southend Council leaders have selected a firm to run a land train service, ferrying visitors between the pier entrance and the corporation loading jetty.

Assistant director of technical services Graham Garner said: "This is operating as an experimental trial until September.

"We received two expressions of interest in operating a land train and this is the one that was prepared to put on a service.

A larger diesel powered land train has run along Southend seafront up to the Cliffs Pavilion before, but this is the first one to run on the pavement.

Mr Garner added: "There is some concern about conflict between the land train and pedestrians so there are provisions for the service to be suspended in very busy periods, such as during the carnival.

"We have to make sure that safety is paramount."

Look, no rails - train driver Keith Bowler takes passengers for a trip along the seafront

Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD

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