Southend Pier is to remain closed until 24 September in order to undergo temporary repairs to the walkway and support pilings, after it was struck by a barge earlier this month.

Contractors are due to start work at the historic attraction today (14 September) and it is hoped that the pier will reopen for the visit of the paddle steamer Waverley. Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's executive councillor for culture and tourism, Derek Jarvis, said full repairs will be carried out later this autumn and will last up to six weeks.

Jarvis said: "The structural engineer who has been examining the pier has still not been able to make a full damage assessment due to continuing bad weather and tidal conditions. ""But he has been able to set out the temporary repairs which are necessary to enable the public to have access to the pier again and we estimate these will take 10 days to implement."