THESE pictures show the dramatic change along Canvey seafront following Castle Point Council’s pledge to spend thousands of pounds sprucing up the area.

The area, from Thorney Bay to the the Point, has been undergoing an extensive clean-up over the past few weeks to cut back all the weeds and clean off the graffiti.

It follows an appeal in the Echo in February for residents and community groups from across Castle Point to put forward ideas on how a £75,000 pot of cash could be spent to make the area more attractive.

Almost £40,000 will be spent on the seafront.

East ward councillor Colin Letchford, who is also chairman of the Friends of Concord Beach, said: “Many residents had complained to me, as a volunteer working on Concord Beach, about the state of the footpath along the bottom of the seawall from Thorney Bay to the Point. I advised them to write to the council suggesting cleaning up the path be given priority.

“On behalf of the residents, I would like to thank the council for listening and carrying out this excellent work.

“The improvements already made are reaping positive results.

“When the pathway was uncared for, dog mess was a major problem, now the path is evidently being cared for dog walkers are becoming more responsible and not leaving mess on the path. I have always noticed this happens when the path is kept clean.

“This Christmas residents and visitors will have a much more pleasant environment in which to walk off the Christmas pud.”

Recently, the Canvey Baywatch club was set up by a group of volunteers to restore the seafront at Thorney Bay to its former glory.

The group, which meets every Tuesday at 10am for about three hours at Thorney Bay beach, has also been working to clean the paths.

A Castle Point Council spokesman said: “The works to Canvey seafront extend along the whole length of the seafront from Thorney Bay to the Point.

“The total cost is £39,000 and this includes £10,000 on new bins.

“We are in the process of agreeing other projects within the funding, which will extend across the whole of the borough.