THE last BBC Essex pirate radio show will be aired in a special three-day broadcast in Harwich.

The town will be awash with former radio pirates who revolutionised popular music in the 1960s from Saturday August 12, to Monday, August 14.

BBC Essex will be broadcasting live from the LV18, the last manned lightship, at Harwich quay.

Ray Clark will be broadcasting from the ship on Saturday and Liana Bridges, along with former Radio Caroline pirate Barry Lewis on Sunday at 9am.

Keith Skues will be on air on Sunday night for a three-hour regional show with guest Roger “Twiggy” Day.

The LV18 studio will be live from 9am to 3pm on Monday to mark the 50th anniversary of the Marine Offences Act, which shut down all but one pirate radio station in 1967.

Tony O’Neill, from the Pharos Trust, which owns the red lightship, said: “The BBC and Pharos Trust will also being hosting an exhibition of pirate radio memorabilia on the Ha’Penny Pier over the three days.

“The exhibition will include recently discovered and unique photographs from 50 years ago of the pirate radio ships Galaxy and Mi Amigo.

“Many of the radio pirates will also be appearing at the Electric Palace cinema on Saturday and Sunday evening to speak to visitors and introduced a screening of The Boat That Rocked.”

On Monday the ashes of the late Dave Cash, a 1960s radio pirate and BBC presenter will be scattered from Harwich Lifeboat by his widow Sara Cash.

Those wanting to pay their respects should gather on Ha’Penny Pier from 10.30am.