SOUTHEND’S seafront gardens will be lit up as part of a stunning illuminations event, drawing inspiration from the much-loved Never Never Land attraction.

LuminoCity will be a four-day festival of light throughout the town centre, pier and seafront, launching on February 16, helping to crown Southend as a new city.

The tenth installation to be confirmed is Radiance, which will see the Shrubbery in the Cliff Gardens - opposite Adventure Island - become part of a light trail.

Andy Barak-Smith, owner of Southend-based company It’s All Done With Mirrors, will light individual trees, and use floodlights to create an illuminated backdrop of changing colours.

His show takes inspiration from the old Never Never Land - a magical garden which enchanted generations of families.

The steps from the High Street to the pier will be turned in to a stairway of light.

Carole Mulroney, Lib Dem cabinet member for environment, culture, tourism and planning, said: “With yet another fantastic installation added to the dazzling line up, the excitement around Southend LuminoCity is growing by the day.

“I cannot wait for everyone to enjoy this incredible free event.”

Genting Casino has also got on board with the light fantastic, with sponsorship allowing the event to expand with the additional attraction.

General manager Jim Firth said: “Genting Casino are delighted to be involved with this event, helping to bring the community together, celebrating our newly awarded city status and Sir David Amess’s legacy.

“This festival is also a great opportunity to support local businesses.”

There will be nine large-scale interactive light installations that will pop up around the town centre and seafront next month.

The LuminoCity installations come from around the world, including New York, Dubai, Lyon, Moscow, Baltimore, Jerusalem, Amsterdam, Romania, Berlin, Denmark, Moscow, Singapore, to name a few.

The light show follows calls for Southend’s illuminations to return.

The old Southend illuminations stopped in 2007, to the disappointment of generations of families who spent their summer evenings amid the glistening seafront lights. Talks about having the illuminations trail to boost tourism started more than a year ago.