New Zealand earthquake: Essex firemen receive awards
Six firefighters from Essex have been given awards for taking part in rescue work after the New Zealand earthquake.
Derek Leask, high commissioner for New Zealand, honoured the Essex team members at a ceremony in Colchester on Wednesday.
The team had worked at the five-storey Pyne Gould Corporation building that had collapsed, killing 13 people.
Christchurch police said more than 180 people died following the 6.3 magnitude quake in the city on 22 February.
Assistant divisional officer Rudy Jackson, from service headquarters at Kelvedon, station officer Terry Jewell and firefighter Mark Sladden from USAR-Lexden, were among those to receive awards.
Others were station officer Len Cleary, from Loughton Fire Station, sub officer Gary Wootton, from Harlow Fire Station and firefighter Nigel Golland, from South Woodham Ferrers Fire Station.