A NEW website charting the 106-year history of Southend’s Carnival has gone live.

The Carnival Archiving project has been collecting photographs and memories from the annual event which started in 1906.

It was set up originally to raise money for Southend Victoria Cottage Hospital in Warrior Square but now it helps support dozens of local causes.

Chris Charles, chairman of Southend Carnival Association, said: “We are delighted to be part of the UK carnival archiving project as funded by the Lottery Heritage Fund, as this gives us a chance to save previous and current memories of Southend carnival and what it has meant to different generations growing up here. It is great that we have the chance to collect details of an event which is a fundamental part of the history and identity of Southend.”

Over the next few weeks, the project will be collecting specific information about the history of the Carnival Court, Carnival Queens Floats, the Kursaal Flyer and the Kursaal Cub as well as themes around regular entrants in the procession or the Childrens Fancy Dress.

Anyone who wants to share their memories, photos or films can info@southendcarnival.org.uk. To see the archive go to www.carnivalarchive.org.uk.

This year’s carnival will be held between June 17 and 23 and for more information go to www.southendcarnival.org.uk.