Conga planned to turn footbridge opening into '˜real celebration'

Members of the Shoreham-by-Sea Facebook page are keen to make November 13 a celebration for and by the people of the town, involving as many residents as possible.

A mass conga along the Adur Ferry Bridge is planned, raising money for Chestnut Tree House children’s hospice.

Sarah Brierley said: “We decided on the idea of having a conga as this would be a real celebration with music and mass participation.”

The conga will start at the War Memorial in East Street at 4pm and people taking part will be asked to donate £1. The aim is to raise more than £1,000.

The Duke of Gloucester will unveil the landmark bridge at an official ceremony earlier in the day.

Sarah said the choice had disappointed long-time residents, as he had no connection with the town.

A Facebook campaign was launched, suggesting Holly Willoughby, who was born in Brighton, should open the bridge instead and this received a lot of support on the site.

Sarah and friends Elaine Crees, Russell Carter and Peter Wood then met at Suters Yard in High Street and, together with landlord James Parker, they came up with the idea of the conga.

Sarah added: “We decided we needed to follow up with something that would make a difference and an impact.”