Street entertainers and jazz music will help form part of the first ever festival set to be to be held for residents in Aldborough, Barkingside and Clayhall wards.

The Gants Hill Festival, pencilled in for September or October, is the brainchild of Conservative Cllr Ruth Clark.

Giving residents gathered at last night’s area committee four meeting a taster of what she is planning, she said: “We don’t have anything like it in area four.

“Barkingside has something, and so does Woodford and Wanstead, but we’re the only town centre that doesn’t.

“I will ask for a report to come to the next meeting.

“I’ve got in contact with the schools and I really want to make this a terrific event for area four.”

Speaking to the Recorder after the meeting, which was held in William Torbitt Primary School, Eastern Avenue, Newbury Park, Cllr Clark said the event would be held over a weekend, possibly to tie in with the unveiling of the work of art set to be constructed on the Gants Hill roundabout.

She added: “I went to the Woodford and Wanstead festivals as deputy mayor [last year] and I was very impressed with what I saw.

“I want that to come to area four.

“I think it’s something that we’ll have to build year on year.

“I expect it to be very successful in the first year.

“I want it to build a good reputation.”

Businesses across area four will be asked to play music in their shops during the festival weekend, and traders are being asked to contact Cllr Clark if they want to get involved in other ways.

She can be contact be emailing, ruth.clark@redbridge.gov.uk.