A POPULAR venue will be opening its doors to members of the NHS including staff at Basildon Hospital who will be able to enjoy a free night of entertainment – and some drinks – as the local community says thanks to key workers who helped through the Covid-19 pandemic.

The special celebration party of thanks will take place at East Thurrock Community Association on Saturday, 21 August from 7pm.

The club, on Corringham Road, in Stanford-le-Hope, will welcome up to 250 NHS workers, who need only take along their NHS ID card to get in.

The Association will be footing the bill for the evening, which was originally planned for last year but postponed because of the continued lockdown, with £1,000 available for free drinks, but it is also hoping the local community will chip in and donations can be made via this link

The Association's John Weeks says: "this is the first available opportunity for us to say thank you to the NHS, There will be a free disco by DJ Malcolm Kitts, the miracle man who was one of the country's first Covid survivors. We will be holding a raffle on the night with all proceeds and a donation going to a NHS charity."

Last year Thurrock Nub News told the story of Mr Kitts, a popular and well-known figure in the Corringham and Stanford community whose recovery inspired the original plans for the party.