SOUTHEND Pier was awash with talent as local and national musicians descended on the town for the second Busking Festival.

The event on Saturday and Sunday saw a variety of live music acts entertaining crowds, including the Lamps, Headroom, Chris Davison, from Silvertruth and Deferred Success, Jakob Deist, the Velvet Tree, the Isinglass Affair, Chris Baron and Men with Wood despite the torrential rain on Sunday.

Derek Jarvis , Southend councilor responsible culture and tourism, said hundreds of people had enjoyed a host of acts on the pier in the sunshine on Saturday.

“I think it’s an important event for Southend, because it’s renowned for encouraging musical talent,” he said.

“It’s got itself on the map as something to look out for and I would like to see more events like this happening all over Southend. I’m delighted it was so successful.”

Last year’s successful event marked the reopening of the pier which had been closed for two weeks for repairs, after a barge crashed into it in high winds.