West Ham legend Sir Trevor Brooking paid tribute to a group of people who are using rugby to conquer their drug and mental health problems.

The footballing hero presented a special achievement award at Southend Rugby Football Club to the "Scorchers".

Southend Scorchers has been running for three years and is a collaboration between staff from South Essex Partnership NHS Trust's Community Drug and Alcohol Service and patients who struggle with substance abuse and their mental health.

Dr Patrick Geoghegan, the trust's chief executive, said: "The best way to engage with service users is to offer them something that they want. The rugby football offers a chance for everyone to get fit and have fun.

"The demarcation between client and staff is temporarily removed."

He said the rugby team offered greater social contact for patients and encouraged them to get out and beat side effects of medicines such as weight gain and agitation.

Dr Geoghegan added a number of patients had had in-patient treatment and looked forward to being discharged so they could resume playing the game.