Plaque honours Laurel and Hardy

Laurel and Hardy are to be honoured with a Comic Heritage blue plaque in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, today.

The memorial will commemorate the duo's performance at the Odeon cinema there 50 years ago.

John Inman will present the plaque to the town, and it will later be placed in the refurbished entrance to Southend Pier.

The ceremony is part of the annual convention of Laurel and Hardy fans - named after their 1933 Film Sons Of The Desert.

More than 110 fans, some from as far afield as Holland, descended on the town for the event - the 23rd of its kind.

Laurel and Hardy played Southend two years after the end of their prolific movie career - which produced more than 100 films.

Published: 5 May 2002