More than £18,000 has been handed out by leaders of Southend Carnival Association.

Up to 44 different charities from around the town will benefit from the money thanks to the crowds and fundraisers at last year's carnival.

A total of £18,100 profit was raised by the week of events - £5,000 more than the previous year.

The largest grant of £5,000 has gone to the association's own fund to help maintain the carnival estate for elderly people in Leigh.

New charities have also been given a cash boost from the bumper fund-raising year with Essex Ambulance Flight for Life Appeal netting £1,000 and Southend Youth Orchestra gaining £1,000.

The biggest money spinning event from 1998 was the carnival fair in Chalkwell Park but there was also a big increase in the cash raised at the illuminated procession along the seafront.

Carnival chairman Mike Steptoe said: "A large number of volunteers from the town worked very hard to raise the money.

"It gives the members of the association much pleasure in passing this money onto the various good causes.

"The most difficult evening of the year is deciding which organisation should receive a grant.

"However, from this year a new system has been introduced to handle applications and a simple grant form has been introduced to ensure equity of treatment between all applicants."

This year's carnival has been lined up for between Saturday August 14 and Saturday August 21.

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