MALDON woman Julie Taylor has been awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Year's Honours list for her services to the local community.

Julie, 58, has been distributing lifesaving bleed bags across Essex for several years and has been a campaigner and advocate against knife crime.

The Maldon grandmother began raising money and awareness after her grandson, Liam Taylor, known as 'Fish' to his family, was stabbed to death in Writtle in January 2020.

The Taylor family has since set up the Liam Taylor Legacy Fund, to buy bleed kits and defibrillators for schools and community groups, to save the lives of people in need of urgent care and the easy-to-use kits have already saved many lives.

Julie gave up her job more than three years ago to grow the Legacy fund.

She has visited many schools to deliver talks about knife crime, and works closely with emergency services, charities and community organisations to raise awareness and make a difference.