SOUTH Essex's quirky characters are being celebrated in cyberspace by thousands of young fans.

The Owl Man and Salvo the clown are among those with groups devoted to them on the social networking site, Facebook.

Salvo the clown, a Southend legend, has 42 members while the well-known Owl Man, Francis Green from Rochford, has about 250 fans in his group.

Group members think the Facebook interest reflects a nostalgia among people of that age group for these local figures from their childhood.

Anjuli Reeves, 22, from Prittlewell, is compiling a book, called Local Legends, on eccentric figures from across the country - which included a number from south Essex.

She said: "I think many people think they're the only ones who know about these people, but then you find out there are lots of others who remember them, too. My dad even remembers seeing some of them when he was younger."

Steve Cranfield, 28, from Rochford, created the group dedicated to Mr Green, who can often be spotted parading his birds in the High Street.

He said: "I don't really know anything about the Owl Man, just that he has been in Southend for as long as I can remember and always has a collection of owls with him.

"Really, the Facebook group was to give him his own group, along with Salvo the clown, so people can discuss Southend's quirky characters."

However, Mr Green, a 71-year-old former farm-hand, was surprised to learn he has an online community devoted to him.

"I don't know anything about the internet group," he said. "I can't really use computers because of my eyesight. But that's great if they have set one up.

"I'm very well-known here. People from all different countries come here and they've all heard of me."

Happily busking in Southend High Street, Salvo was blissfully unaware of the support he has in cyberspace.

When told he is something of a celebrity among young people on Facebook, he said: "What's Facebook? I have never heard of it, much less looked at it. I don't really know how these things work, but it's nice to know I have some young supporters, or any supporters for that matter.

"All I want to do is bring happiness to other people. I try to help people along life's road and to make them happy."

Salvo who lives in Thundersley and won't reveal his age for fear of being forced into retirement, has been earning his living by making others laugh since 1968.

He added: "People think clowns are just for children, but I have done a birthday party for a 106-year-old."