A POPULAR tea dance for armed forces veterans will go ahead next week after a u-turn over a decision to end the annual event.

Clacton Town Hall has hosted a tea dance for veterans - many decorated Second World War heroes - almost every year since 2005.

Usually organised by Tendring Council with the support of the Royal British Legion, many regular attendees were upset to discover the council would not be hosting the event this year.

But after the Gazette reported on the decision to cancel the tea dance, widespread dissent led to appeals to reinstate the event.

The decision was criticised amid widespread commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Dan Casey, president of the Clacton Royal British Legion, said despite his initial frustration he was pleased to receive help in reinstating the event.

“Tendring Council and Essex County Council, to their credit, have put money towards the event this year,” he said.

“Clacton Co-op also put money in, so we are going to have a fantastic event for the veterans.

“We want to show them a cracking time - we have between 15 and 20 Second World War veterans there.

“They are over the moon and will be the guests of honour.

“The tea dance is a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones, and to enjoy a pleasant afternoon in the company of comrades.

“I went out to all the branches of the Royal British Legion in Tendring to appeal for veterans to come forward.

“We’ve got people coming from Brightlingsea, Harwich and Walton.

“There will be around 110 people there including dignitaries.

“I am absolutely delighted.

“Usually I would have an axe to grind, but in this case eEveryone has come together to ensure this will be a wonderful event for the veterans.”

A Tendring Council spokesman said the authority had been looking at running “something different” for veterans after several successful years of running the tea dance.

He said: “After feedback from attendees on their preferred event it has been agreed to stick with the tried and tested format.”

Tendring Council chairman Dan Land said: “I can’t wait to attend my first veterans’ tea dance to soak up the atmosphere and meet some of those incredible people who served our country in the armed forces.”

The tea dance will take place on Wednesday, August 7, at Clacton’s Town Hall.