PUBS across Canvey, Rochford and Rayleigh have been praised after New Year’s Eve went off without a hitch.

Sgt Mark McQuade, from the Castle Point and Rochford community policing team, visited different pubs to check the state of affairs but was pleased to find that establishments held ticketed events.

He carried out checks at the Haystack pub, in Furtherwick Road, Canvey, as well as Marcos Bar in Eastwood Road, Rayleigh, and the Pink Toothbrush in Rayleigh’s High Street.

He said: “Most of those venues were ticketed events on New Year’s Eve and all of these licensed premises had door staff so when it came to the evening, everything was so controlled.

“Prior to the event, I don’t think we arrested anyone on Canvey.

“I spoke to Warren Garner, who manages the Haystack, and he said that he had a closed door event.

“It was so controlled that they really didn’t need a police response.”