MORE than half of the tickets set aside for pensioners who want to attend the annual Oyster Feast have been sponsored by Colchester businesses.

Mayor Julie Young, who in the past has supported the Alternative Oyster Feast - which sees more than 100 pensioners treated to a fish and chip dinner - ahead of the traditional grand event, wants to get 100 tickets sponsored so the older people who usually go to the alternative feast can go to the real thing.

Each ticket costs £95.

At the moment, sponsors have been found for 55 tickets to the October 28 event and Mrs Young still expects more to come forward.

So far, McDonald’s, Aldi, Bloor Homes, Colchester Borough Homes, Colne Housing and one private individual have come forward as sponsors.

Mrs Young has only been to the official town hall ceremony once, when she was deputy mayor last year.

She said: “The response I have had so far has been incredible - I’m really happy with how it’s going and I really can’t thank the sponsors who have already come forward enough.

“I want to get as many people who would usually go to the alternative to go to the full one.

“I’ve said I’d do it and I’ll do everything I can to make good on that.”

Once Mrs Young knows the final number of sponsored tickets, a list of people who regularly attend the alternative event will be drawn up and names will be picked out of a hat.

She added the people drawn from the hat will have to commit quickly to going to the event so that no ticket goes unused.

The mum-of-three will still have an organisational role in the alternative event.

The alternative event was traditionally held at the Arena sports centre, off Napier Road, which has been demolished.

Last year it was held at Firstsite and this year Mrs Young hopes a fish and chip shop in Colchester town centre could host the event.

She added: “There will be people who, I imagine, will want to continue going to the alternative festival, which is fine and I understand that.

“I would, though, like to give as many people as possible the chance to go the town hall one as possible.”