COLCHESTER’S annual Sports Personality Of The Year Awards have been cancelled this year.

Organisers have reluctantly called off the event, due to take place in November.

Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused major interruption to sport in the area across the past 12 months making it very difficult to run such an event and be fair to all the excellent athletes in the area.

Awards ceremony chairman John Powell said: "We are very sorry these awards will not go ahead for the second year in a row but we are in the same position as other organisations being unable to be fair to all athletes when there have been so many interruptions to so many sports."

The Sport Colchester Sports Personality Awards were first made more than 40 years ago and are recognised as one of the best of their kind in Essex.

They recognise and reward the success of individuals, teams and volunteers representing a variety of sports and have across the years recognised many outstanding local athletes who have gone on to win International honours.

The Sport Colchester Sports Personality Awards, sponsored by the Gazette, Inntel and The Duley Partnership, usually take place at the JobServe Community Stadium.

The last time the awards took place was in 2019, with Lewis Richardson named Male Sports Personality last year.

The young boxer had a whirlwind 12 months that saw him land a full-time place in the Great Britain squad, being picked for an Olympic test event in Tokyo.

Colchester Harriers athlete Rebecca Jeggo received the Female Sports Personality prize, following a year of success at both regional and national level.