LOCAL MP Stephen Metcalfe has completed a mission to ensure schools in his South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency had recognition of the Platinum Jubilee year with a special certificate.

Over the past few weeks Mr Metcalfe has visited 32 schools across the constituency, meeting pupils and staff as he awarded them a commemorative Platinum Jubilee Certificate. This follows on from the individual certificates he gave to every student earlier in the year.

The certificates were designed by the MP and were offered to all schools in the constituency to honour her late Majesty's extraordinary 70 years on the throne. They feature a portrait of the Queen and the official Platinum Jubilee Emblem which makes them even more poignant and significant in the year of her passing.

Mr Metcalfe said: "I believe it is critically important that MPs engage with local schools. They are the community's life blood.

"So, I am very happy to present Platinum Jubilee Certificates to nearly every school in the constituency. When pupils look back at this year, in the years to come, I hope that they will realise its huge significance.

"I want to put on record my extraordinary gratitude to all schools and their staff for the incredible work they are doing and have done over what has obviously been a difficult few years."