AN Aids charity is set to return to Southend just five months after it left.

The Terrence Higgins Trust closed its Southend centre at the end of March after the local NHS Trust cut its funding.

But the charity looks set to sign a new contract with Southend Council to promote sexual health and prevent the spread of HIV in the town.

Southend East Essex Primary Care Trust was paying the Terrence Higgins Trust to help HIV sufferers manage their condition from its centre, in Clarence Street, Southend, by providing advice, counselling and support.

The charity continued to offer some support and advice services in Southend on a mobile basis, by travelling from the charity’s premises in Colchester, after the funding stopped on March 31.

The Echo understands the council has now asked it to deliver sexual health promotion and community HIV prevention services in Southend, but the paperwork is yet to be signed off.

Conservative Southend councillor Mark Flewitt, who is an active campaigner on Aids and HIV issues, said: “This is excellent news after a period of great uncertainty.

“The next chapter is all about prevention and new creative ways of getting a fundamental message across to all of us.”

A Terrence Higgins Trust spokeswoman said: “Earlier this year, Southend Council opened a tender process for a new contract to deliver sexual health promotion and community HIV prevention services in Southend.

“The outcome of that process has not been announced.”