A community hub has been awarded charitable status after a year of hard work.

Witham Community Hub in the Newland Shopping Centre announced that they are officially a registered charity.

The hub achieved the status with the help of Maldon and District CVS who help voluntary and community sector organisations working in the district.

Community Hub chair, Tina Townsend said: "After a huge amount of hard work we are delighted to announce that we are officially a registered charity.

"Thank you to Maldon and District CVS who took us through the process, and managed our stress when others didn't want to help.

"We can now apply for more funding opportunities, we only achieved the charity status last week so I'm looking at all the options available."

Witham MP, Priti Patel said: "My warmest congratulations to the Witham Community Hub and Tina Townsend on being granted charitable status.

"The Hub does great work in the community and this has been recognised by the Charity Commission, which has added them to the register of charities.

"The Hub which has six trustees, first applied in April 2019 to open up more avenues for funding. They are supported by the Maldon and District CVS.

"I have worked with them many times before and I look forward to working with them again in the future."