ARSENAL reportedly turned down the chance to sign Manchester City defender Michah Richards during the transfer window.

Arsene Wenger was offered the 26-year-old but instead decided to sign Calum Chambers, according to talkSPORT.

With the departure of Thomas Vermaelen to Barcelona in August, the Arsenal manager may look to bolster his defence further in January.

Richards secured a loan move to Serie A side Fiorentina on deadline day, with the defender having been linked heavily with West Ham United.

Ahead of the long-awaited release of the iPhone 6 today, we take a look at some of the rumours surrounding the new launch:

• Think slim. If what we hear on the grapevine is true, a there will be two sizes for the new iPhone – 4.7 inches and 5.5 inches. One of them is supposedly called the iPhone Air, and the 5.5-inch handset is apparently 77mm wide and just 6.7mm in depth.
• Colour in. Leaked photos of the new iPhone appear to show the model appearing in muted gold, silver and slate.
• Display. It's thought that Apple will up their game and increase screen size for the iPhone 6, following the popularity of larger screen models from Samsung and Sony.
• Touch. Fans of the iPod touch and iPad will find the new phones simple to use, as design elements from both of these popular Apple products have supposedly been incorporated into the new iPhone 6.
• Scratching. Those fed up with the delicate screen of previous makes may be pleasantly surprised by the 6, which is rumoured to be far more scratch resistant.

The internet has been awash with people claiming they have the new model ahead of its release date, with the technological rumour mill going into overdrive with each new post.

For a longer run down of what to expect from Apple's latest release, see below:

ALAN Devonshire hailed his Braintree Town's display against Bristol Rovers and described the 2-0 victory as "fully deserved".

A penalty from skipper Kenny Davis and a Dan Sparkes strike sealed all three Conference Premier points and the Iron's third win on the bounce.

Devonshire said: "I think that is the best 90 minutes of football we have played for a long time.

"We fully deserved the win because we set out from the start with pace and crucially our own passing game which I know we can do. It's our third win in a row and we kept a clean sheet which is important."

He added: "We just have to keep out concentration and keep going and playing our football."

Devonshire was also full of praise for his skipper Kenny Davis explaining: "His current form is excellent and he's an intelligent player, reads the game, breaks things up in midfield and again showed in this game he is a top player at this level."

Davis, who opened the scoring on 31 minutes from the penalty spot, said afterwards: "It was important that we kept playing as we have been and kept our winning run.

"We knew it would a hard game because they are full-time, just dropped out of the Football League and want to get straight back but we have a habit of spoiling it for such clubs. I felt once we got the second goal that we would go on and win in style and we did."

Twenty-two year-old Simeon Akinola, making his home debut for the club, won the official man-of-the-match award alongside a tribute from Devonshire.

The Iron manager said: "The boy deserved his start and did really well," he said. "I had known all about him and watched him at Harrow Borough last season but I just had to be patient in getting him here to the club."

The Iron travel to Welling United tonight (Tuesday), with the Kent side currently sitting third from bottom.

Devonshire added: "We have one or two injuries so I may have to juggle the side around for Tuesday's visit to Welling which will another really tough game. They are struggling a bit at the moment but it's a local derby game really and they will make it hard for us on their park."

Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, and the rest of the Wales side have arrived in Andorra ahead of their opening Euro 2016 qualifying tie this evening.

Chris Coleman's side have been tipped to do better than previous campaigns, with UEFA's new qualifying structure expected to give the smaller nations a better chance of qualifying.

Rival nations include Bosnia-Hercegovina, Belgium, Israel, Cyprus, giving Wales a decent chance.

The last time Wales made a winning start to a qualifying campaign was in 2008, when they defeated Azerbaijan 1-0.

Manager Chris Coleman told Sky Sports: "I sense the expectation and two years ago I would have been wary of it. I'm not now and I won't shy away from it.

"We have to take it as a compliment and deal with it, and if we do that we'll do the business."

The game against Andorra will kick-off at 7.45pm and is live on Sky Sports 5 from 7pm.

The England side might have been showered with praise after last night's 2-0 win over Switzerland in Basel, and it appears the broadcasters got a literal soaking.

ITV presenter Adrian Chiles and pundits Glenn Hoddle, Ian Wright, and Lee Dixon were stood by the touchline previewing the game when the sprinklers made an welcome appearance.

The group swiftly moved to dodge a soaking, but not before it made contact with their perch in 37,000 seat stadium

Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck secured the win with a second half brace, putting England top of the group.

Blue-green algae at Hylands Park in Chelmsford is unlikely to have caused the death of a pet dog, tests have confirmed.

Analysis carried out by Environment Agency officials last week has proved negative. They were prompted after two springer spaniels were taken seriously ill after a walk in the park. One later died.

Fears spread that a slow burning woodchip fire at Ingatestone had contaminated the River Wid, but the water was also given the all-clear. 

Officers then took the algae for tests but the subsequent results have failed to shed any light on what caused the dogs' illness.

An Environment Agency spokesman said they were now taking samples at the so-called 'dog's pond' at Hylands Park but did not anticipate this as being the cause.

"It is looking less likely that this is the cause of what unfortunately happened with these dogs," she said. "It is sad for the owner but it is looking like there is nothing suspect about the area.

"Dogs regularly go swimming in the dog's pond so we would expect if there was anything up, we would have had feedback."

A family left distraught after its three puppies were stolen from their garden have been heartened after two of them were found at the roadside.

But the Corps are still pleading for the safe return of their third Chihuahua puppy Mocha, who they haven't seen since he was taken on the afternoon of Thursday, August 14.

Christina Corps, 33, said: "My partner Michael had just come home from work and I had put the puppies and the two girls, Poppy and Fifi, out the back together.

"I called the two girls in as they were barking at something at the end of the gate and I didn't want to disturb the neighbours.

"Literally a few minutes later the back gate was open and they were gone. I instantly knew they had been stolen.

"We were in the kitchen about three to four minutes, and it's right near the back gate."

The three-month-old puppies Cherry, Peaches and Mocha were stolen from the garden in Burghley Way, Chelmsford.

"My children were so upset, they were in tears, absolutely devastated," added Christina.

"My 10-year-old was drawing pictures begging them to come back. They've found it really hard to deal with, as have I."

'Over the moon'

Following a Chronicle appeal, Cherry and Peaches were found on Woodham Road in Rettendon on Wednesday last week, but there was no sign of Mocha.

Christina said: "They were just dumped in a pet carrier with no food and no water, they were basically abandoned.

"A man found them and handed them to a vet in Southend and when he scanned them they came up stolen.

"I'm over the moon they're back and so are the children, they were really missing them as well.

"I think whoever took them thought it was too risky to sell them because they were microchipped – I'm so glad I got that done."

The puppies were part of litters from Poppy and Fifi that the stay-at-home mum of Lauren, 14, Jack, 12, Faye, 10, and Amber, six, had sold.

But they intended to keep Mocha, Peaches and Cherry.

Christina, who believes the trio were taken in a planned theft, said: "I reckon it was someone that knew where they were, someone watching the house, finding the right moment to get them."

Mocha is described as chocolate in colour all over with a chocolate-covered nose. He is microchipped.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Pete Carter at Chelmsford Police Station on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555111.

The discovery of a venomous Brazilian wandering spider in a batch of bananas from Tesco has sparked fears of an infestation.

Shopper Abby Woodgate, from Colchester, was just about to peel her bunch of fruit when she noticed what appeared to be mould on one of the bananas.

The 30-year-old then poked the white lump to discover that it was actually a cocoon full of tropical eggs. She was told to fumigate her vacuum cleaner after tidying them away.

The Brazilian wandering spider, or 'banana spider', tends to hide in banana bunches and is occasionally found hidden within shipments of bananas. According to reports, its 'highly toxic' venom is being studied for use to treat erectile dysfunction treatments. A bite from a spider can sometimes last for up to four hours.

But on the somewhat negative side, their venom causes loss of muscle control and breathing problems, causing in paralysis and possible death.

Detectives investigating a corrosive liquid attack on a man at Witham have released new graphic photographs showing the extent of his injuries as part of a renewed appeal for information.

The photos were taken by a friend of victim Wayne Ingold, 56, while he was receiving initial hospital treatment after the incident at a block of flats in Bramble Road at about 10.45am on August 8.

Wayne had gone to collect his post from the communal entrance to a block of flats when he encountered two men banging on the door.

Following a brief exchange the two men threw the liquid, which was in a glass bottle, over Wayne and ran off.

He has suffered severe injuries to his hands and face and he has had to have skin grafts which are ongoing.

DC Alan Lewis said: "The photographs clearly show how Wayne suffered appalling injuries in this incident.

"He has asked us to release them to show what these people are capable of causing and how they have to be taken off the streets and brought to justice.

"It is believed that this was a case of mistaken identity and that extensive investigations have shown that there is no evidence that anyone in the area was the intended victim in this crime.

"We have now widened our enquires in to the London area but we are still hoping that people in Witham may remember seeing the two men in the e-fits.

"We also hope that someone might remember seeing the two men in Bramble Road up to half an hour before the incident occurred. We believe that they seemed to be lost and were wandering around looking at property numbers before arriving at the flats.

"We know they had a blue Vauxhall Signum or hatchback-style vehicle that was seen in the area but we have no information about the index number or anything else that would help us find it."

If anyone has any information they should contact officers at Braintree CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Our latest fitness column, BlitzFitMe's senior fitness trainer Daniel Reeve talks about why you should prioritise strength training in your regime.

"During a great session over in Hatfield Heath a few weeks ago, I had my group of ladies dead lifting and farmers walking a relatively (for them) heavy weight.

Now, before the exercise commenced the usual skeptical calls of 'lifting heavy weights makes women bulky', started to be thrown around.

Other comments I've heard in the past have been 'it's dangerous, it's bad for your joints, and once you have muscle, you can't stop lifting or it will all turn to fat'
Let's get a few things straight. It's all rubbish and it helps fuel the stereotypes that are keeping too many women from experiencing the profound benefits of strength training.
So today ladies, when you sit down to list your fitness objectives, you may be surprised to learn that strength training will not only help you reach them, but may help you reach them faster than performing cardio exercise alone.
Yoga and the treadmill can have their place, but they're not enough. Here are five reasons you should prioritise strength training in your fitness regime.

1- MORE EFFECTIVE FAT LOSS: Think weightlifting only benefits those who want shirt-ripping arms? Think again.
Although many people consider weightlifting only a means to add size, when contrasted head-to-head against cardiovascular exercise, resistance/strength training comes out on top in the battle to burn calories.
The huge advantage to weight training is your body's ability to burn fat during and most importantly, after exercise.

2- MORE MUSCLE, MORE CALORIE EXPENDITURE: As you increase strength and lean muscle mass, your body uses calories more efficiently. Daily muscle contractions from a simple wink to a heavy squat contribute to how many calories you burn in a given day. Sitting burns fewer calories than standing; standing burns fewer than walking and walking burns fewer than strength training.
The more muscle contractions you experience during a day, the more calories you'll burn. If you have more lean muscle mass, you'll have more muscle contractions and thus burn more calories.

3- CURVES - AS YOU INCREASE STRENGTH AND LEAN MUSCLE MASS, YOUR BODY USES CALORIES MORE EFFICIENTLY: As you build muscle, your body begins to take a nice hourglass shape. Though endurance exercise can help you lose weight, that weight comes in the form of both fat and muscle tissue.
If you're losing both fat and muscle, you can lose those lovely, and they are lovely, curves as well. Strength training can help create and sustain them.

4- STRESS RELIEF: Exercise in general is a great way to manage stress. Researchers have consistently found that those who regularly strength train tend to manage stress better and experience fewer adverse reactions to stressful situations as those who do not exercise.
In addition, resistance-training studies on older adults show that moderate intensity weightlifting improves memory and cognitive function. Next time you need to blow off some steam, hit the weights. 

5- QUALITY SLEEP: Strength training greatly improves sleep quality, aiding in your ability to fall asleep faster, sleep deeper, and wake less often during the night.
A study published in the International SportMed Journal suggests that morning resistance training or high intensity training greatly affects the quality of sleep and lengthens the time of sleep the night after training.
Here comes the science. If fat loss is your goal, a primary purpose of these training programs is to produce a large metabolic hormone response, notably growth hormone (GH). At night during deep slow wave sleep is your biggest opportunity for GH production.

If you're not sleeping soundly, you won't get the GH release and In addition, stress hormones such as cortisol will be elevated. The HPA axis that governs hormone levels will get agitated, adaptations will be compromised, and fat loss will stall.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS, GET LIFTING LADIES. I'm sure you all want to feel strong, determined, and confident in everything you do  from fitting into jeans, to moving heavy furniture, to playing with kids, to dealing with a stressful career.
Resistance training can benefit in all aspects of your life and make you feel stronger, healthier, and more confident. It's a key component that will be bringing into our new Saturday morning classes in Chelmsford starting September 27.
Stay healthy, Daniel 

www.blitzfitme.co.uk

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CHELMSFORD have announced that they have signed Evans Kouassi from Cypriot first division team Ermis Aradippou.

Evans played in a friendly for the Clarets and joins the club following the receipt of his international clearance from the Cypriot FA. 

Born in the Ivory Coast, the 25-year-old has plenty of experience at this level, having previously played for Billericay Town and Potters Bar.

Kouassi becomes Mark Hawkes' fourth signing in the last few weeks, with Yado Mambo, Nicky Nicolau and Kirtys MacKenzie joining the Clarets.

The striker will be available for selection for Saturday's away game against top-of-the-table Boreham Wood.

Detectives have released CCTV images of a man they wish to talk to after a pub-goer was glassed in the face and left with 30 stitches on a night out in Braintree town centre.

Police were called to The Bull pub in Market Place just before 12.10am on Sunday September 7 after reports that a man had been assaulted inside.

When officers arrived they found the victim had already been taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment to facial wounds that required 30 stitches.

Initial enquiries suggest that following a disagreement inside the pub a man threw a glass into the victim's face. 

The suspect then left the pub in company with a woman. The man is described as white, of slim build, 5ft 10in tall, with light brown short swept over hair. He was wearing a bright red bomber-style jacket.

The woman he was with is described as being of mixed race, slim build, in her 20s and 5ft 2in tall. She had collar-length straight brown hair. 

The victim, a 22-year-old man from Braintree was taken to Broomfield Hospital Chelmsford and released after treatment.

Any witnesses or anyone who recognises the man in the CCTV image should contact the investigating officers PC Chris Philpott and DC Nikki Simpson at Braintree CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

ESSEX just about edged the opening day in their crucial County Championship encounter with Kent at Chelmsford.

Kent were bowled out for 198 in the 62^nd over after winning the toss and electing to bat, with Essex finishing the day on 97-4

The Eagles must win their last three games if they are are to get promotion out of Division Two.

Jamie Porter made his debut for Essex after impressing for the second team, as Jaik Mickleburgh returned for the injured Ryan ten Doeschate.

Essex got off to a great start as Daniel Bell-Drummond (1), Rob Key (0), Ben Harmison (9) and Brendan Nash (4) all went cheaply.

Porter then got his first wicket in his first over as he trapped the dangerous Darren Stevens LBW for 11 as Kent slipped to 37-5.

Sam Billings and Sam Northeast then settled the ship and guided Kent past the hundred mark.

Billings then fell for a decent 51, with Northeast pushing on and moving to a fantastic century.

James Tredwell (2) Mitchell Claydon (0) and Adam Riley (2) all went in quick succession with the score on 166-9.

Northeast was the standout performer for the visitors, but he was eventually caught by Monty Panesar off the bowling of Jesse Ryder for a well-made 117.

David Masters and Graham Napier both finished on figures of 3-44 in an impressive bowling display from the home side.

With Kent all out on 198, Essex opened with Tom Westley and Nick Browne, but disaster struck in the first over when Westley was out for a duck to Claydon.

Mickleburgh then made 15 but was out to Stevens, becoming the Kent all-rounders 250^th First Class wicket.

Ravi Bopara (21) became the third wicket of the innings as Stevens was again picked up an important wicket for his county.

The fourth wicket fell when Browne (28) was caught by Billings for Stevens' third wicket as the Eagles slipped to 67-4.

James Foster (5*) and Ryder (28*) managed to see out the rest of the day's play, with the Eagles looking to push on tomorrow.

Witham were denied by two great saves from Margate goalkeeper Nikki Bull as they went down 2-1 at Hartsdown Park.

Ryan Moss grabbed an early opener and Tom Phipp flicked in a second as the home side led 2-0 at the break.

But that did not tell the whole story as Witham attacked with real threat.

And after the break – with the home side forced into a defensive reshuffle – the visitors got back in it through Kurt Smith's goal.

Bull made brilliant stops from Smith and Lee Townrow to keep Gate ahead and in the end, it was a relief to the majority of the 560-strong crowd when the final whistle went.

Margate left Charlie Allen and Luke Moore on the bench, with Phipp and Luke Williams starting, and they were then forced into a last-minute change as well when Brett Johnson had to be replaced by Jamie Stuart.

The first effort on goal was a howitzer from Phipp which only just went over the top, before Shami Pedulu headed straight at Bull.

But on five minutes, the deadlock was broken after some brilliant work from Williams, who skipped around his man before shooting from the edge of the box. Martyn Guest dived at full-stretch to keep it out but it was Moss who got their first to side-foot home his eighth goal of the season.

If anyone expected Witham to roll over, they were very much mistaken and Garry Kimble's side continued to press, with their proficiency in the wide areas clear for all to see. One cross forced Bull into a save, a second was well headed out by Anthony Riviere and a third fell to Lewis Godbold, who blasted wide from eight yards.

Kane Wills saw a long-range effort force Guest into a fine save after a slight deflection, and from the resulting corner Phipp hooked the ball just over the top.

Pedulu was forced off on 20 minutes having suffered a knock earlier on, with James Robinson the man to replace him.

Lewis Taylor ended a marvellous Margate move by firing a low shot wide from 30 yards before Bull – who won August's Golden Glove – had a moment of panic as Robinson almost charged down his clearance.

Another corner presented Phipp with another chance, this one cleared out to Jack Bennett who crossed it back in for a looping header from the former Ebbsfleet United man which Guest caught under pressure.

But Witham should have been level just before the half-hour when Joshua Mayhew was presented with the ball in the centre circle and he picked out the perfect pass to Tom Wraight on the left, who had time to pick his shot but fired it just over the top.

And he was made to pay for that miss as Gate extended their lead on 33 minutes. Zac Attwood's low cross was deflected into the side-netting and the corner was cleared out to Attwood, who shot acrobatically from 25 yards and it was diverted in by the head of Phipp.

Mayhew was injured in his attempt to clear and became the second Witham player to depart, leaving the field on a stretcher to be replaced by Smith, while Gate defender Charlie Wassmer also picked up a knock in the same incident.

Smith soon created a chance for Robinson but Phipp and Stuart got back to prevent the first Town sub getting his shot away.

Wassmer had to make way at the break with his injury, replaced by Adam Cash, meaning that Riviere moved into the centre of defence alongside Stuart, making the combined age of Gate's two centre-halves 72.

But Gate were undeterred and almost extended their lead when Attwood headed Taylor's cross against the outside of the post, before having shot blocked following a short Gate corner.

A dangerous Bennett free-kick was deflected behind and Stuart eventually fired the set-piece over the top – and then, in the blink of an eye, the deficit was halved.

A ball over the top was missed but Smith still had Bull to beat – and he did so brilliantly, acrobatically thumping a volley into the top corner.

Gate's defensive shortage threatened to make it an uncomfortable final half an hour, but they almost restored the two-goal gap after a scintillating move involving Riviere, Phipp, Taylor and Cash ended with the latter crossing for Moss, but his shot was blocked by Townrow.

Smith headed over the top as Witham pushed, and Bull had to deflect Wraight's effort wide after a lapse in concentration.

Attwood's low cross was just diverted past his own post by John Watson and it was real end-to-end stuff for a while, with James Stevens' corner somehow missing everyone in the middle as the visitors looked for a leveller.

Smith was brilliantly denied a second by Bull's feet, before the Gate stopper made an even better save, clawing away Townrow's header just as it looked to be creeping inside the far post.

Both sides had attacks but neither were able to find the key pass as Margate held on for their eighth win in 10 outings so far this season.

BRAINTREE Town's winning run came to an end after a 2-1 defeat to Welling United at Park View Road.

Jordan Cox had given the Iron a first half lead, in what was a composed opening 45 minutes.

But it was a totally different story in the second half as Welling dominated and scored through Chris Bush and Harry Beautyman.

Alan Devonshire made one change from the 2-0 Bristol Rovers win, with Dan Sparkes being replaced by Dan Walker.

The only action of the first 15 minutes was that of Remy Clerima suffering a hamstring injury that forced him off, to be replaced by Steve Smith.

But in the 15th minute the Iron took the lead with a Jordan Cox strike. Alan Massey played a ball down the left to Simeon Akinola who fed Cox. The striker then cooly lifted the bouncing ball over Jamie Turner to put Braintree in front.

Akinola looked very bright for Braintree as he then latched onto a Cox flick-on, jinked inside the box and tried to curl an effort around Turner. However, his shot was straight at the Welling keeper who took it comfortably.

The hosts had little in the way of chances in the first 30 minutes, with Jon Nouble's effort from outside the box sailing high over Nick Hamann's goal.

Dan Walker had a good chance for the Iron just before half-time when he latched onto a ball from Akinola. He cut in on his left foot but fired his shot straight into the arms of Turner.

But it would be Welling who would have the final say of the half, as Jon Nouble worked his way to the left by-line. He cut the ball back to Beautyman who side-footed it straight into Hamann from close range.

However, Braintree got off to a disastrous start to the second half as Mitch Brundle gave away a free kick right on the edge of the box. Bush stepped up to take it and smashed the ball under the wall and into the bottom corner to bring the hosts level.

Welling carried on piling the pressure on Braintree, as Beautyman then forced a fine save from Hamann diving to his left. The hosts spent the next ten minutes camped around the Braintree box as the pressure built.

But that gave the Iron a chance on the break, which Mulley almost exploited. He ran the length of the pitch with the ball and found space in the box. However, his left-footed shot was well parried away by the Wings' keeper.

The hosts dominated the possession in the second half, with the Iron unable to get their foot on the ball and keep it for a long period of time.

And that pressure told pressure ultimately told as Welling grabbed their second goal. Ex-Grimsby Town player Jamal Fyfield picked the ball up in the middle of the pitch and slipped through Beautyman. He shrugged off Massey and slotted the ball neatly past Hamann.

Akinola came so close to giving the Iron an equaliser, as he rose high to meet a Michael Bakare cross. He headed the ball into the ground and towards goal, but Turner managed to slap the ball away at the last minute.

Smith couldn't have come any closer to levelling the score as he hit the crossbar. The substitute smashed the ball from outside the box, but saw it cannon back off the woodwork.

Welling United: Turner, Fazakerley, Gallagher, Fagan, Bush, Beautyman, Marsh (Baselle 62'), Jefford, Nouble (Hudson 85'), Corne (Fyfield 75'), Sho-Silva

Subs not used: Butcher, Williams

Bookings: Sho-Silva (26')

Goals: Bush (48') Beautyman (79')

Braintree Town: Hamann, Brundle, Habergham, Isaac, Massey, Walker (Bakare 69'), Davis, Akinola, Cox (Sparkes 46'), Clerima (Smith 12'), Mulley

Subs not used: Pentney, Maybanks

Bookings: Habergham (25') Brundle (47')

Goals: Cox (15')

Attendance: 506

Referee: Christopher Powell

A TEENAGER who trekked eight hours a day for 10 days across East Africa to raise funds in memory of her brother has been named as a winner of a Diana Award.

Rebecca Houlding, 18, from Tollesbury, is one of 17 nationally to be named a Champion Fundraiser by the charity to mark 17 years since the death of the Princess of Wales.

Her epic trip alongside mum Sarah raised more than £10,000 for the Ronald McDonald House charity.

The pair took on the gruelling trek across the Tanzanian Rift Valley in July last year to raise cash for the charity that provided the family with support while brother Jack was in hospital.

"The trek was a challenge; quite a lot of it was the altitude, but it was just amazing. We would be camping each night on the edge of a crater or halfway up a mountain," said Rebecca, who was nominated while a student at Plume College.

"It was a joint idea between my mum and me as I had always wanted to travel.

"Although I was born two years after Jack I knew mum and dad stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in hospital so we decided on that charity."

Born with a heart defect in 1994, Jack spent five weeks, his entire life, at Guy's Hospital in London, during which time his parents were able to stay close by in the Ronald McDonald House, free of charge.

Shortly after what would have been Jack's 18th birthday, Sarah knew she wanted to take on a challenge in her son's memory.

So she teamed up with daughter Rebecca to raise funds for the trip to Africa by holding barn dances, cycles rides and dinner parties.

Together, the pair raised £10,300 with their 150-mile trek, a feat that has been recognised by the charity set up as a legacy to the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

Tessy Ojo, chief executive of the Diana Award said: "As we approach the seventeenth anniversary of Princess Diana's death it is heartening to know that her legacy lives on through the lives of thousands of young people who are involved in social action and changing their communities for the better."

Inspectors have raised concerns over high levels of self-harm and a lack of educational opportunities for inmates after an unannounced visit to Chelmsford Prison.

A report by chief inspector of prisons Nick Hardwick found there had been seven unexplained suicides since the last inspection in 2011, and that the first night centre holding existing and problematic prisoners was a potential distraction when managing the risks associated with new arrivals.

However Mr Hardwick concluded that Chelmsford was doing a good job, but needs further improvement.

He added: "The prison was well led, operated on the basis of good-quality relationships and communication, and was well connected to the community it served.

"The prison had a clear role and many of the fundamentals were right.

"However, there was much work to do, not least in ensuring an improved regime; but in the better promotion of equality and, significantly, in ensuring improved safety outcomes.

The Chronicle has previously spoken to the family of Wayne Edwin Roe, 29, who died just two days into a 12-week jail term in March, have previously demanded answers as to why he was left unsupervised.

Mr Roe's younger sister Charlie, 27, said earlier this year: "Where was the support from the prison? When was the last time he was checked? 

"Why was the information that he had tried to take his own life only a few weeks before not passed on from the police to the prison?

"I don't think they even took the time to read his file"

Inspectors involved in the recent visit also raised concerns about the state of first night accommodation, the supervision of planned interventions with force, living conditions in the segregation unit, and the promotion of equality.

The report also focused on positive areas, saying the atmosphere was settled and calm and most prisoners said they felt safe, initiatives to reduce violence and bullying were effective, and prisoners with complex needs who were at risk of self-harm were identified and well supported

"The prison was addressing most of these issues in a measured and sensible way, seeking to identify priorities, and ensuring incremental, and what will hopefully be sustainable, improvement."