Seaside towns in Tendring are set to benefit from a new £360,000 project to tempt visitors to the area, with a host of activities planned.

Spanning two years, the project – named Resorting to the Coast – will engage with community groups and schools to bring the seaside heritage of Clacton, Frinton, Harwich and Dovercourt, Jaywick and Walton-on-the-Naze to life.

Funding for the project is made up of a National Lottery grant of £316,400 from the Heritage Lottery Fun (HLF), along with £43,600 from Essex County Council (ECC).

Volunteers, including heritage groups, will be the driving force behind the range of planned activities over the next two years, which will include theatrical peformances, a travelling exhibition, a schools programme and academic conferences.

Two town trails will also link the Tendring stretch of the England Coast Path currently being developed by Natural England in partnership with ECC.

Councillor Simon Walsh, Essex County Council cabinet member for environment and waste, said: “Resorting to the Coast is not just about bringing our seaside heritage to the forefront of the community today, it is also to present an underappreciated side to the history of the towns.”

Robyn Llewellyn, head of HLF East of England, said: “Seaside towns are integral to our tourism offer and a much-loved part of our culture, but sometimes critical perceptions mean their incredibly rich and diverse heritage is underappreciated.

“Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, volunteers and communities are set to take the lead in recognising the value of their towns, strengthening their economies and tourism for the future, and reigniting love and pride for their seaside heritage.”

As one of the project’s partners, the University of East London (UEL) is currently funding research to develop the project website, and will deliver two conferences.

Tony Sampson, from UEL, said: “This is the kind of engagement UEL is keen to achieve with community organisations and local authorities, working to make a real difference on the ground.”

A seaside heritage day, with traditional seaside entertainment and activities, is set to be the grand finale for the project in 2019, bringing together the success of the community engagements.