Fundraisers - Emily Gahagan and Isabelle Clark with dad Lee
A pair of avid fundraisers were bursting with joy after fighting off stiff competition to be crowned the Echo’s local heroes.
Hundreds of readers voted in our contest, which saw 30 hopefuls go toe-to-toe in a bid to win the top prize of a digital certificate and a £100 shopping gift card.
However, 11-year-old sisters Isabelle Clark and Emily Gahagan were declared the winners after raising more than £2,000 by undergoing a 27-hour sleepout in Southend.
The youngsters, who also tackled a sponsored cycle last summer, were outside the Tesco store alongside their dad, Lee Clark, on Southchurch Road for more than a day as they bid to support Charlie Boys Angels, the Southend Foodbank, CSF and The Project.