COUNCIL bosses are putting together plans to screen a potential England world cup semi-final and final in Colchester's Castle Park, the Gazette can reveal.

Saturday's crunch quarter final against Sweden has already been ruled out as it falls at the time hundreds of people have already paid for tickets to watch Beauty and the Beast.

An evening showing of The Greatest Showman has also sold out.

Officers have been tasked with finding out how much extra it will cost the council to screen the football, taking into account the additional security which will be needed on both days should England progress.

Mark Cory, leader of Colchester Council, said: "My honest opinion is that I would like to do it and I think my colleagues would too.

"But the it really is about making sure the cost does not leave the borough out of pocket and making sure we put the safety of people at the top of the agenda.

"Obviously we have already spent money on getting the screen there and that cost won't change - we recoup that through the films and other paid-for events.

"The tennis is obviously free but it doesn't require huge security costs as screening football would."

He added: "We also have to be mindful that while there are many football fans in the borough, of which I am one, not everyone is.

"We have, however, put together a contingency for a potential semi-final and final.

"That has been put forward to the police and they have said they should be ok."

The council would also have to run the plans past a local council safety advisory group.

Should England beat Sweden, the Three Lions would face either Croatia or Russia in the semi-final.