AN impressive group of citizens have been honoured at an annual award ceremony.

The Citizen of Southend Awards, sponsored by Radio Essex and Adventure Island, celebrate outstanding contributions within the community by an individual or group of people.

John Barber, 65, from Southend, was presented the Gold Citizen of Southend Award 2016 by the mayor, at a private ceremony at Porters Civic House.

He was one of the founding members of Community in Harmony and coordinated their events for six years before stepping down. Mr Barber had previously set up the Southend Homeless Action Network in 2008 and in 2014 he became part of the committee that set up Street Spirit.

Mr Barber said: “I feel quite humbled - there are many people who do many great things for their community, so it’s quite an honour and I’m lost for words.”

The committee felt that Mr Barber had shown an incredible amount of commitment to Southend’s community needs, by not only being aware but actively making the changes that were needed and being a great role model.

The Silver Citizen of Southend Award went to Emma Turnbull, from Southend, who set up Southend Vox, in 2009, a non-profit choir, which has raised £4,900, for charities over the years. In 2009 Ms Turnbull was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, and after a challenging year, three operations and 11 months with a stoma, she completed the Great North Run.

She said: “I feel totally overwhelmed. It’s great to receive an award for doing something I love. I never expected it in a million years.”

The Bronze award went to Jenny Drewer, from Rayleigh and Amanda Pang from Leigh.

They both run the Southend Junior Phab Club, in Leigh and began as volunteers when they were 14-years-old.Now 40-years-old, they run the club which is for both disabled and able bodied youngsters from seven to 18-years-old.

In addition to the Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards, this year the judges felt they would like to present two more awards.

The Youth Award went to 14-year-old Jamie Cornwell-Stevens from Shoebury who has spent the last two Christmases dressed as an elf, helping Santa give out presents at the Milton Community Partnership.

The Special Community Award 2016 was given to Rutendo Chitiga, from Westcliff for compassion and community spirit. After a fire took a young woman’s life in May, Mrs Chitiga has worked tirelessly to bring the flats community together again, to get through the tragedy.

She arranged a memorial service for friends and family, at a local community hall and has worked with South Essex Homes to make the flats as safe as possible by encouraging residents to become part of the neighbourhood watch scheme.