HARWICH Society volunteers greeted passengers off a cruise ship during the Easter weekend.

The volunteers and members of the community greeted passengers off the Costa Mediterranea on Sunday.

There more more than 2,500 passengers onboard and some spent the night in Harwich.

The information point at the port was manned during the day while the ship was in port.

Shuttle buses ran from the port to Harwich where they were met by Harwich Society personnel.

Several passengers took the option of going on guided tours, others took the maritime trail leaflet and went off by themselves.

The Guildhall was opened by the council and councillors along with society guides who were available to answer questions.

St Nicholas church was open and Dovercourt Theatre Group members dressed in period costumes and were in demand for photographs.

Colin Farnell, Harwich Society chairman, said: "The passengers that I spoke to said that Harwich was a clean and tidy town - which was quite a compliment.

"But I must say everybody we passed when I was guiding was very friendly to the passengers."