A RECORD-BREAKING pub crawl is coming to south Essex.

Eight popular watering holes across Basildon, Southend, Castle Point and Brentwood have signed up to do their bit to help make the tour a success – raising vital cash for a children’s charity along the way.

The crawl, organised by pub operator Stonegate, will take in 620 venues across the country in 19 weeks, with staff from each establisment finding unusual ways to travel to the next venue to hand over the baton.

The firm has already raised £204,000 for Variety, which helps disabled and disadvantaged youngsters.

Steve Cunningham, south Essex area manager for Stonegate, said: “I am very proud of the dedication and enthusiasm shown by our teams. They have worked very hard to deliver fantastic entertainment and to raise money for a worthy cause.”

Families were invited to the Slug and Lettuce, in High Street, Brentwood, yesterday, where tots were entertained by a clown and face painter.

The crawl then made its way to the Quart Pot, in Runwell Road, Wickford. Staff got on their bikes to move the tour onto the Beehive, in Southernhay, Basildon.

The team from the Beehive were this morning making their way to the Half Crown, in Benfleet. The tour will then travel to the Alex, on Alexandra Street, Southend.

Space hoppers are the next transport of choice, as staff from the Alex move to the Slug and Lettuce, on Southchurch Road, Southend.

Three barmaids will compete in an egg and spoon race all the way to the Oakwood, in Rayleigh Road, Eastwood, where a family fun day will be in full swing.

Tomorrow, the tour moves to the Lobstersmack, on Canvey, before staff jump in a boat to hand the crawl over to Kent.

To donate, visit justgiving.com/company/stonegate/even ts#Britain-s-Biggest-Pub-Tour.