A volunteer won the Essex Police Cup for her work to keep Braintree safe.

Chairman of the Braintree East Project Karen Brown was presented with the award by the High Sheriff of Essex Michael Hindmarch and Chief Constable Jim Barker-McCardle for work in the town to prevent crime and disorder.

More than 50 community projects and charities also received grants totalling £45,000 at the High Sheriff's’s awards on March 9 which supports local charities working to make Essex safer.

Mrs Brown, who was one 18 volunteers across the county to be nominated for the award, said: “It was a really big surprise as I didn’t know I had been nominated."

See this week's Braintree and Witham Times for the full story.