THE wall of death and a steam funfair will come to Southend next Easter as part of a new event planned by the team behind Southend Carnival.

Carters Steam Fun Fair is set to be at Chalkwell Park all Easter weekend with the Wall of Death making an appearance on Easter Monday, and a fireworks display on the Saturday.

The event is being planned by Southend Carnival organisers, in conjunction with Southend mayor councillor Chris Walker, with proceeds going to the mayor’s chosen charities.

Carnival organiser Garry Lowen said: “It will be the first wall of death since the one at the Kursaal closed down.

“We have quite a daring mayor this year so it’s great to see him taking on the challenge.”

Mr Walker plans to make an appearance on the wall himself, should he be able to shed enough weight and drop below 11 stone by Easter.

He said: “At present I am around 13 to 13.5 stone so I will have to go on a diet.

“I want to wait until after Christmas to start it, but my wife says it has to start before.”

The daring announcement came at an event to celebrate the success of this year’s carnival, which raised nearly £6,000 for local good causes.

This year was the first time individual floats could collect for their own cause, and the change was a positive one, with the total of £5,815 taken – nearly triple last year’s takings.

Dr Asif Raja, managing director of main carnival sponsor Summercare, praised the efforts of Mr Lowen and his team, but wants to make next year’s event, on August 22, even better.

He said: “I have been going to carnivals in Southend since I was a boy and this year felt like it was back to the good old days.

“It was a wonderful occasion and showed the true community spirit of the town.

“We’re starting to plan for next year already though, so we can go bigger and better than this year.”

TOP CARNIVAL COLLECTORS

1st: Southend Lifeboat – £613 2nd: Blackwater Preservation Trust – £340 3rd: SOS Bus – £330