HAPPY shoppers spilled out onto the road and enjoyed live music and food to celebrate the pedestrianisation of Crown Street.
The street party, held last Thursday saw many enjoying the new traffic-free space with bread and cakes by McCarthy's and hot food from the Crown Street Cafe, as well as a candy cart.
Visitors enjoyed music from resident DJ Darren Butler and a performance by Colchester-based band Funky Voices.
Adding to the celebrations was the opening of a new shop and cutting the ribbon was deputy mayor of Brentwood, Mark Reed.
Kiss My Angel Face has been opened by 34-year-old Victoria Fuller. The mother of four will be selling clothes for children, from babies to 12-year-olds.
She opened her boutique for the first time during the street party and the garments were attracting a lot of attention.
Victoria said: "I think the pedestrianisation of the road will work well – it was dangerous before.
"Hopefully it will encourage more mums to come down here."
Her daughter Paige, 12, was dressed as Minnie Mouse for the event, and there was face painting.
Speaking of the street party, Lin Heath, owner of French Quarter, said: "It's lovely – this is what we can do more of now the street is closed to traffic and we can bring the community together.
"The road got even more dangerous with all the TOWIE shops. People from out of town would drive down Crown Street and with no pavements it was dangerous – it looked like it was pedestrianised but it wasn't.
"We had to do something about it – it was an ongoing battle. We want people to keep using our shops and keep trade in the town and this will help."
Mike Le-Surf, Labour group leader, added: "This is brilliant. After so many years it is lovely to see the road closed to traffic. It is now a safe environment and it's nice to see tables and chairs out there."
Brentwood resident Sam Bradley, from Warley, was also pleased to see the changes to the road.
The 31-year-old said: "You would step out of the shops and be so close to the cars."
Her friend, Kerry Pettitt, 31, from Hutton, added: "I love the shops down here like French Quarter – Crown Street is special."
