THOUSANDS of people are expected to descend on Clacton for a new seaside festival on Sunday.

The resort's two-day Sea and Beach Festival attracted an estimated 100,000 people over the past two years.

Now it is being relaunched as a one-day Beside the Seaside fest.

Organisers are promising a range of traditional seaside entertainment, water sports, family fun and sports activities.

Children's events on Palace Beach include sandcastle competitions from 12noon to 3pm, face-painting, kite-flying and storytelling.

There is live music from bands on the main stage including The Hit List, Spiderz Band, The Voice finalist Lydia Lucy, Indigo 90, Dilute to Taste, Denial Twist and Raz.

In between the acts on the main stage there will be performances on the lower promenade from Brazilarte – a capoeira band – walk-about pirates from Circo Rum Baba and giant puppets displays.

On the upper promenade the entertainment begins at 11am with the Witham and Rivenhall Air Training Corps Marching Band, followed by the local Royalettes Twirling Team.

Acoustic music is then brought to the festival by Essex Rocks and features Leyline Pass, Luke Fisher and Sparrowhawk, who will perform throughout the day.

On the East Beach there is a range of traditional sports and leisure activities, include family yoga, a seaside dash, tug-of-war and sack race.

The event is being staged by Harwich Festival of the Arts and runs from 11am to 6pm.

  •  The prequel - Party on the Square - kicks off on Saturday from 10am until 5pm. Organised by the Clacton Town Partnership, it promises to be the biggest line-up yet. For more information, click here.