THE first night of Southend’s fireworks were a huge success, with onlookers amazed at the spectacle.

The firework display, the first of seven weekends of displays, proved popular among visitors on Saturday night.

The huge display saw over 1,700 fireworks used, all of which are set off from a barge moored 400 metres from the shore in the Thames Estuary.

Southend Business Improvement District (BID), the organisers of the fireworks, posted a video on Facebook of the fireworks, which shows hundreds of people lining the seafront. They said: “Our First of seven Seafront Fireworks Spectacular’s.

“We hope you enjoyed the show.

“We thought it was amazing!”

The free-to-watch firework displays will be running for the next seven weeks, with every display starting at approximately 7.30pm.

An explosive final display will be held on November 16, when BID provide the town with the massive Christmas lights switch-on.

Dennis Baldry, chair of BID, said: “It was a great way to start our programme. “Thousands of people thronged the seafront. Southend Pier was also opened to the public, providing an iconic location to watch the display and take some cracking photos.

“This is why the BID organises the firework spectaculars and other events; to provide free entertainment that inspires people to visit the town in large numbers and then spend time and money on the seafront and High Street.

“I think this first event of our autumn series has been a big success.”