Three special Basildon and Canvey youngsters are to be honoured at a Child of Achievement award ceremony on Monday.

Brother and sister Alanna and Joshua Day, of Canvey, and Jessica Plant, of Basildon, will be presented with their awards at C&A in the Eastgate Centre at 11am.

Joshua and Alanna both have severe allergic conditions, but work hard to look after each other.

Joshua suffers from a severe peanut and egg allergy while Alanna has chronic hay fever, which means she has to wear dark glasses and cannot go out to play.

While Alanna reads Joshua's sweet wrappers to stop him eating something he shouldn't, Joshua stays indoors to play with Alanna when she can't go out.

Wheelchair-bound Jessica Plant has ataxia, secondary to a cyst in her brain, meaning she has difficulty with balance and co-ordination.

She is gradually becoming less and less able, but still keeps battling and, most importantly, smiling.

The ceremony will be attended by Billericay MP Teresa Gorman and Bob Sears, chairman of Basildon Council.

It will also see C&A launch a range of badges, stickers and posters, with all proceeds going to help fund the awards.

Nomination forms for next year's awards will also be available at C&A, which has launched a competition to design a certificate for the lucky winners.

Child of Achievement is in its 18th year - 150 children are honoured annually nationwide for their efforts in overcoming illness or disability.

The Basildon ceremony is one of a number going on simultaneously at C&A stores all over the country.

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