Residents from across the Halstead area have been recognised at an awards evening.

Greenfields Community Housing held its eighth Annual General Meeting where it announced the winners of the Community Spirit Awards and of the Greenfields Gardening Competition.

Young achievers Andrew Wiseman, of Sible Hedingham, and Conor Kent, of Halstead, were recognised for their volunteering work.

Both youngsters were rewarded for being part of the housing association’s positive engagement programme, which encourages young people to increase their skills and find employment.

They were involved with the NEET and tidy scheme, that gives those not in education, employment or training (NEET) the opportunity to work together to transform the gardens of residents who are unable to do so themselves.

Great Maplestead’s Gemma Frost was also rewarded for her work in the Good Neighbour category.

Every year, Gemma leads the Christmas Present Appeal, which involves arranging, collecting donations and distributed hundreds of Christmas presents to vulnerable or elderly people in the District who are alone on Christmas Day.

Gemma believes that no-one should feel alone on Christmas day, and that, by receiving a present, that person knows that someone does care.

Eric Root of Earls Colne won the best pots and tubs category in the Greenfields Gardening Competition.

The award ceremony was held on September 19 at Braintree Arts Theatre.