HARWICH’S International Shanty Festival has been named as the best festival in Essex.

The popular annual event, which took place over the weekend, was handed the award by the East Anglian Festival Network.

This year saw the 16th annual shanty event take place in streets, pubs and venues across the maritime town.

There were more than 40 acts, including the Longest Johns, Polish band Brasy and Nordet, from Lorient in Brittany, and Monkey’s Fist, as well as singaround sessions, workshops, illustrated talks, guided walks, maritime crafts, street theatre and enactments.

A spokesman said the festival was “honoured and delighted” to receive a trophy from the festival network after being voted by members of the public as the best festival in the county.

“This award covers all types of Essex festivals, not only music festivals,” she said.

“Mike Wilson presented the trophy, made from a recycled microphone, to Jon and Pam Fitzgerald at the Festival Friends’ Reception at Harwich Town Sailing Club on Friday, the first day of this year’s festival.

The East Anglian Festival Network aims to bring together all the “amazing local people” that form the community that put on more than 700 festivals, fairs, carnivals and fun days held each year across the region.