Two sporting heroes from Thurrock have been presented with Freedom of the Borough awards.
Margaret and Fatima Whitbread were given the council's highest honour by councillor Sue Shinnick, the mayor of Thurrock, and councillor Lynn Worrall, the leader of Thurrock Council.
Both Margaret and Fatima were unable to attend last month's award ceremony at the council chamber, so the mayor and the leader visited them earlier this week to present the award.
Councillor Shinnick said: "It is a real honour to present these awards to two of the borough’s sporting and Olympic heroes.
"It honours not only their incredible athletic achievements but also the community work they have done promoting not only sport but in advocating for children in care."
Councillor Worrall, who is a former pupil of Margaret's, added: "I was delighted to get the chance to be here today as these two remarkable women received their Freedom of the Borough Awards.
"It is especially poignant for me because Margaret was my PE teacher at school.
"I might not have reached the heights of international athletic achievement that Fatima has, but I have happy, and exhausting memories of school sports thanks to Margaret."
Freedom of the Borough is the highest award Thurrock Council can give.
Margaret and Fatima Whitbread have been honoured for their contributions to the sport and community in Thurrock and for advocating for children in the care system.
Margaret adopted Fatima aged 14, in 1975, and Margaret went on to coach her at javelin.
Fatima went on to break the world record at the 1986 European Athletics Championships, and became the first British athlete to set a world record in a throwing event.
Later that year, she won the European title, and also took gold at the 1987 World Championships.
Fatima is also a two-time Olympic medallist, winning bronze at the 1984 Olympics and silver at the 1988 Olympics.
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