Maldon is now home to two new bleed kits which will be on hand to help save lives in the town, after they were given to the community during a fundraising evening last night (Thursday 28 October).

Julie Taylor, who runs the café at St Peter's Hospital in Maldon, bought the kits through the Liam Taylor Legacy Fund, which she set up to save lives in her grandson's name following his murder last year.

Liam, known as 'Fish' to his family, was just 19 years old when he was stabbed to death outside the Rose and Crown pub in Writtle on 31 January 2020.

The fund, which aims to buy bleed kits and defibrillators in Liam's memory, has already enabled Julie to buy eight bleed kits.

Two of these kits were presented to the community champions from Tesco, in Fullbridge, and Morrison's, on Limebrook Way, during last night's curry evening at St Peter's café, which was organised by Julie.

Julie said: "When Fish was killed, had these bleed bags that are all around the Metropolitan Police been available, it potentially would have saved his life."

The evening was hosted by Mahi Chowdhury from Taj Mahal Night, an Indian restaurant in Chelmsford, and attended by residents who enjoyed a two-course meal.

"Lovely family and friends turned up to support us in honour of Liam," Julie said.

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Both Maldon supermarkets will now have a bleed kit which can be used to prevent someone from bleeding to death before paramedics arrive on the scene of an incident.

Julie said: "These bags are £97.99 each - I'm pushing for them in Chelmsford and Maldon because that's where I work."

And this is just the beginning - another £600 was raised during the curry evening which will be used to buy six more bleed kits.

To raise more awareness of knife crime and youth violence, Julie is holding a candle lit walk tomorrow night (Saturday 30 October).

She wants as many people as possible to attend her walk in order to honour the memory of those who have lost their lives to knife crime and to raise as much awareness as possible.

She said: "It's for anyone who has a loved one in Heaven who has been taken too soon, as well as Liam.

"I have a few leaders from knife crime groups who will be joining."

The walk will begin from St Mary's Church in Great Baddow at 4.30pm and finish at Chelmsford Cathedral.

It will be followed by a 20-minute service at the cathedral on New Street.

Participants are invited to bring torches to shine during the walk.

"Let's light up Chelmsford," Julie said.

You can find out more about the walk here, and about the work that Julie does to tackle knife crime in Essex here.

To donate to the Liam Taylor Legacy Fund, click here.