The very first in a series of exciting events to celebrate the lead up to the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games will be staged in Tendring later this year.

Harwich will play host to Sparks Will Fly on May 18 and 20 as part of a major programme being put on throughout Essex.

The events, being organised by Essex County Council (ECC) and Chelmsford Borough Council (CBC), are two out of 15 which will culminate in the Olympic Torch arriving at Hylands Park, Chelmsford on July 6.

Marina Mightier, one of two character champions played by stilted performers and created under the Sparks Will Fly banner, will arrive at Harwich Quay by 56ft wooden schooner on May 18 and then join in the Harwich Children's Carnival and parade to Harwich Green.

Then, just two days later, the same character champion will parade with an entourage of around 200 people from Cliff Park, along the seafront, and end up at Dovercourt Swimming Pool linking in with the Tour de Tendring to be staged on the same day.

At the site of the pool in Low Road there will be a special performance which will include handing over a large glass bead - which will include items to represent Tendring - to Marina Mightier.

Neil Stock, Leader of Tendring District Council (TDC), said it will provide both Harwich and Tendring as a whole with a tangible link to the London 2012 Games.

"It seems that we are to miss out on the Olympic Torch Relay in Tendring but this promises to be a fantastic couple of days when residents can really get involved in the run-up to the games on their own patch," he said.

"We will be the first in Essex to host Sparks Will Fly and therefore there is bound to be a significant amount of interest and it promises to be really spectacular.

"It is a high profile event and is bound to attract many extra visitors into our area and boost our very own Tour de Tendring. It is something for all ages to really look forward to and enjoy."

Entertainment, sports and physical activities, trade stands, performers and acts, arts and crafts and a host of other fun will be on offer at either the pool site or Cliff Park on May 20.

TDC's events team, Harwich Children's Carnival and Dovercourt Partnership will be working alongside ECC to make the days a huge success.

Existing funds set aside to operate the Tour de Tendring will be used, along with cash from ECC for Sparks Will Fly events and a bid for £2,000 from the ECC Olympic Legacy team has also been successful.

ECC and CBC are working with the nationally recognised outdoor theatre company, Walk The Plank, which has organised other major events such as the Manchester Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony and Liverpool Capital City of Culture celebrations, for Sparks Will Fly.

For more information about Sparks will Fly in Essex visit www.sparkswillfly.org.uk from March.

Cllr Stock added that there is expected to be significant media coverage which will also put Tendring in the spotlight.

"All in all it will be a shot in the arm for Tendring's economy along with two days of events which will live long in the memory of those who attend," he said.

8/2/12