BASILDON Stephen Metcalfe visited the recent Heart of Pitsea Christmas Event to meet the stallholders raising public awareness of their charities and associations.

The Heart of Pitsea Trust is a 10-year-old community project run by a committee of volunteers who live in the Pitsea area. It is funded by the National Lottery Fund and supported by Basildon Council, the NHS Basildon and Brentwood Clinical Commissioning Group, Essex Youth Services and the Basildon, Billericay and Wickford Council for Voluntary Services.

It's festive event took place near Pitsea Library and Pitsea Leisure Centre. There was a variety of entertainment for families to enjoy. This included a shooting range, basketball challenge, a kiddie's ride and a soft play area – all at 50p per attraction or 12 tickets for £5.

Additionally, organisations such as Basildon Heritage, Peabody, Basildon Neighbourhood Watch, the Craig Tyler Trust, the Community Policing Team and the Basildon, Billericay and Wickford CV were in attendance and raised awareness for the work they were doing within the community.

Festivities were also enhanced by the Basildon and Pitsea Carnival Association Santa and Sleigh, the Essex Youth Service Bus, the Essex Fire Service Fire Engine, Pitsea Library's free festive craft fair, a free Christmas trail for children with a prize at the end, and an entertainment area with festive music, martial arts demonstrations and much more.

The George Herd Activity Centre Choir brought some early Christmas cheer with renditions of Christmas tunes in Christmas hats.  

There was a great community atmosphere and engagement with local organisations.

Mr Metcalfe said: "The Heart of Pitsea Trust has my fullest support and I applaud the team there for putting on such a fantastic event that really raised Christmas spirits.

"The organisations in attendance are of such importance to the Pitsea community and I am very grateful for all they do."