THE PRANKSTER behind a mock-up of the “Basilwood” sign is up to his old tricks to support businesses.

Salon owner Jerry Watson, 52, created a cut-price Benfleet version of the £90,000 Basildon sign out of hardboard on April Fool’s day.

Now he and his makeshift sign are back. This time he’s dressed as TV host Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.

His latest pose is a spoof of an Echo photo of the Changing Rooms host, who leant on his umbrella in front of the Basildon sign during a visit to the town last month.

Jerry’s version is set to appear on the front page of a charity calendar he is championing to support Benfleet businesses. Jerry, who owns Capello’s hairdressers, in High Road, Benfleet, said: “There was so much feedback from the first picture, it got me thinking.

“It generated so much publicity for Benfleet, I wanted to keep the town in the public eye. I came up with the idea of a calendar and when I saw the Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen picture in the Echo, I knew it would be perfect.

“I’m just glad I had kept the letters for the sign.”

Jerry managed to convince four of his hairdressers to pose naked in the background, with only the letters to cover their modesty. Jerry added: “It’s a good cause, so they didn’t take too much convincing.”

The rest of the calendar features a host of other Benfleet firms also striking humorous and raunchy poses.

Stephen Bosaglia, 36, of Crocketts Jewellers, in High Road, decided to mimic Audrey Hepburn’s famous Breakfast at Tiffanny’s pose by putting on a pair of long black gloves and reclining on the counter of his store.

He said: “It was good fun. It’s great for local businesses, advertising is absolutely key to our survival.”

Jerry plans to produce about 500 copies of the calendar, which will be distributed throughout Benfleet from October.

All profits will go to Cancer Research.