The MP for Southend West is set to host a party celebrating the UK's departure from the EU.

Tonight at 11pm (midnight in Brussels), Brexit finally happens. The UK will leave the European Union and, under the terms of the deal negotiated with Brussels, will enter a transition period. This will run until the end of 2020 and is aimed at giving time for the government and Brussels to thrash out the future relationship between the UK and EU.

In celebration of the long-awaited departure, Sir David Amess will be joined at Iveagh Hall, Leigh Road, by Southend Mayor Councillor John Lamb, Southend's town crier, and a number of those who voted in favour of Britain leaving the union.

Celebrations will start at 8pm, when party guests will step outside and raise a flag. The town crier will read out a declaration speech to announce the countries official departure.

Guests will then return to the hall, where they can explore memorabilia and enjoy live performances and entertainment.

Sir David, said: "I'm so relieved we are finally leaving, along with many people my age who never wanted us to join all those years ago.

"Everything that we feared would happen, did. We lost our sovereignty and had little control over our laws.

"I don't want to see our cultural links stop. We want to maintain our place in the world. This will unleash our full potential, which has been stifled for too long.

"I suspect this is the end of the beginning, and I think a lot of other countries will follow in our footsteps in the future.

"I'm hoping there will be a full house at the celebration tonight and I'm really looking forward to it. It's been a terrible three and a half years- nobody envisioned it would last this long.

"Now it's time to get behind our government as an independent country. For Southend, I'm sure there will be many more opportunities for investment in the future."