A CIRCLE of light is set to beam out across Southend on Saturday night - and it's all in the name of art.

Sean Berry, 41, Paul Manners, 46, and Anna Heim, 46, are the visionary team behind the Pi Project.

The trio of artists, who specialise in large-scale land drawings, are hoping to pull off their biggest project to date this weekend.

It's an eight-and-a-half-mile piece taking in both sea and land in Southend.

The idea is to create a giant circle of light, stretching across Southend and Westcliff and into the estuary, with an 8.33-mile circumference, between 7.45pm and 8pm on Saturday evening.

The circle will be made up of 2,000 volunteers, using electric torches to point in the air.

They will be filmed and photographed from a helicopter flown by pilot Lee Burling.

The project will also form the basis of a documentary for national television.

"It is only 15 minutes out of somebody's day, but it is a very important 15 minutes," said Anna, of Station Road, Westcliff.

"The Pi Project is attempting a number of things through our first large-scale land drawing in Southend.

"We believe our concept - whereby the people who participate in the performance of the drawing are the art - is challenging and unlike other community art projects."

Ann added: "The whole point of the Pi Project and our large-scale land drawings is to foster community spirit and bring communities together."

Planning for the human drawing began in November, 2006, with an official launch of the project in January 2007.

Southend Pier is central to the design of the land and sea drawing, say the artists, and sailors from Alexandra Yacht Club, in Clifftown Parade, Southend, have agreed to take part. Anna said: "The circle will reach right out into the water. Sailors will be in the estuary holding torches on their boats.

"We'll have people in kayaks in the shallow water, too."

Among the groups who have agreed to take part on land are the Kensington Road Scout Group, Southend Rugby Club, the Phab group and Essex Power Bockers. Chalkwell Lifeguards and Rescue will provide the services of their rescue craft and crew if needed, along with additional volunteers to be part of the drawing in the Estuary and on the land.

But the organisers say there is still time to volunteer to be part of the project.

You can register online at www.pi-project.co.uk The team will be at the Pier Visitors Information Centre between 10.30am and 5pm on Saturday, where you can choose your position in the circle.

Anna said: "The only thing we need you to do is hold a torch while sitting or standing for 15 minutes."

Sean, of Pembury Road, Westcliff, said: "We're so impressed with how many people have got behind it already.

"I think it's the sort of thing that appeals to people in Southend. There are a lot of interesting types, who can see we're trying to do something special."