A TEN-year-old girl has opened a street which she decided to name in memory of a teacher who died three years ago.

Jasmine Hiom, who is a pupil at St Andrews Junior School in Hatfield Peverel, named the road Fitch Close in memory of Joyce Fitch after winning a competition.

A number of relatives of Mrs Fitch, who was a pupil herself before going on to teach at the old Hatfield Peverel School for 26 years, went along.

Jasmine said she felt it was right to name the area after Mrs Fitch because she "became part of the school community for over half her life."

The new 25-home development has replaced 16 properties which dated back to the 1950s and were built as a quick and cheap type of temporary housing.

They're in Hatfield Peverel and belong to Greenfields and are a mixture of affordable rent and shared ownership.

Councillors and bosses from Braintree Council and Hatfield Peverel Parish Council joined residents and others involved in the project at the unveiling.

Emma Palmer, Greenfields' new Chief Executive, also went along to the unveiling of the homes.

She said: “Building new homes and creating communities is very important to Greenfields, and it’s fantastic to see residents settling into their new neighbourhood.

"Special thanks to Orwell, who managed the project, and to local residents for their patience whilst the work has been completed."