Cheers, Dean!

Delighted regulars at the Haystack pub, Canvey, backed their home-grown hero to the hilt as he raced to a bronze medal at the World Championships.

Though he was far away in Canada clinching his medal, they felt the international sports supremo was right there on Canvey with them - and at times he is.

He can be found alongside them at the bar of the Furtherwick Road pub, which is one of his locals.

For more on Dean Macey's bronze medal-winning performance see 'Athletics: Macey's best is enough for medal' and 'Athletics: Macey takes bronze' in our Local Sport section and 'Canvey: 'We're all so very proud of brave Dean'' in the drop-down list at the bottom of this story Licensee, Dave Williams said: "He comes in here occasionally. I think he goes to quite a few pubs on the island. Everyone supports him because he's from the area, and especially since he's doing so well.

"There's most certainly a great affection for him."

Diehard fans watched his progress from seats in front of the television in the bottom bar.

Cheers - Dean's fans in Canvey's Haystack pub celebrate his success

Picture: LUAN MARSHALL

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.