THE ANNIVERSARY of the 1953 flood has been marked in Harwich with the planting of flowers.

A new memorial in Wellington Road got special attention the same week 59 years ago which saw water sweep across East Anglia killing 307 people, eight of whom were from Harwich.

A sun dial was put up in the town last year to mark the disaster, and on Friday children from Harwich Community Primary School planted 86 primroses as well as lavender, rosemary, and bluebells in two new flowerbeds.

Further planting is being planned for the memorial, which is also hoped to have flood poetry written by schoolchildren displayed on the garden wall.