OLD Man Stan has made a triumphant return to Basildon releasing a video celebrating the 70th anniversary since it became a new town.

The pensioner puppet rose to fame across Basildon in the 2000s, regularly creating music videos depicting life in the town - often making political points and taking swipes at Basildon Council.

But it is all positive in his latest video, with artist Steve Waters, 51, creating video My Town to celebrate Basildon at 70.

In the video Stan “reflects on the years gone by from his post war life in the Blitz bomb ruins of East London through the early new town pioneer days”, allowing the audience to “go with Stan on his journey as he tells of his part in the building the town and finally, he reflects on some changes and despite some upsets, of course he still loves the place”.

Promoting the latest video, Mr Waters said: “Although Stan’s video is obviously a very brief, light-hearted look at the journey of Basildon as a new town, the film does touch on some fairly important subjects.

“One of those subjects is the matter of displacement. History is full of people being displaced for varying reasons. Look at the plight of the Native Americans for example.

“People who were forced to move from their homelands for the benefit of another dominant society.

“Was Basildon any different? There were whole communities that were displaced as part of the Greater London plan and the development of the new towns.

“People who made way, often against their will - so that the new towns could be built.

“Interesting isn’t it? We often hear people talking about how another culture has invaded their town. We hear it quite a lot in Basildon.”

The song ends with the lyrics: “So who cares if it often mocked, coz I know how it is and was.. its the nicest place I’ve ever lived by far

“I’ve made it me own and in my heart it’s home.. and even if I sometimes moan

“It’s my town.. New town utopia.

“Coz where your heart is, that’s your home and you can bet I’ll never roam

from my town, New town utopia.”