A teenager from Great Notley has been named as the top ambulance cadet in the east of England.

Student Jack Bird, 17, volunteers at the St John Ambulance's Braintree and Bocking unit in his spare time.

He previously won the St John Ambulance Anglia District Cadet of the Year award last month and went on to win the national prize after a two-day selection event in London.

He will now represent St John Ambulance cadets in the east of England for the year.

Jack said: "Being Regional Cadet of the Year enables me to showcase the brilliant work that St John Ambulance does both locally and on a national scale.

"I'm immensely proud to have been awarded Regional Cadet of the Year and hope to do the wonderful charity of St John Ambulance proud."

His parents, Mike and Ceri Bird, were delighted.

They said: "He has worked extremely hard and he has been very dedicated in order to support his unit and be an excellent ambassador for St John Ambulance.

"We would also like to say a big thank you to Clare Ryan, Gemma Aldridge and Matt Harrington-Keeton in particular and all the cadets at the Braintree and Bocking unit."

Ian Callaghan, Regional Youth Manager for St John Ambulance in the East of England, said: "Jack's performance during the weekend, his dedication to the charity and the sheer range of activities he undertakes both at school and outside the classroom clearly impressed the selectors and he is a worthy winner."