WORLD Snooker Champion Stuart Bingham has been voted the Echo’s Sports Personality of the Year for 2015.

The Basildon born 39-year-old saw off stiff competition from Southend United goalkeeper Daniel Bentley and world champion gymnast Max Whitlock to win the award.

And Bingham was delighted to pick up another prize.

“It’s a great award to have won and I’m honoured to have been chosen,” said the snooker star.

“A few people said I should have been on the shortlist for BBC Sports Personality of the Year but I’m really pleased to have won this one and it means a lot to have been chosen by the local community.

“I still walk round Basildon town centre and have people stop to say hello which is really nice.

“I’ve been born and bred around here, it’s where I went to school and it’s where my family are too so I’m always going to be in this area so that makes awards like this mean even more.”

Bingham stunned the sporting public when he won the world title last May, beating Shaun Murphy 18-15 in a high quality final at the Crucible.

And his stunning victory in Sheffield opened up a number of opportunities for the likeable snooker star.

“The things I’ve done off the back of winning the Worlds have been amazing,” said Bingham.

“I went on Question of Sport which was amazing, I went on Transworld Sport as well and these are the shows I grew up watching on TV.

“It’s been unbelievable but I’m not sure it’s really sunk in just yet either.

“It’s been great but I don’t want that to be my only success.

“I want to keep on winning titles and I don’t want the World Championships to be the last even I win.

“I feel as though I’m getting back to my best form now after a slow start to the season and hopefully it won’t be long until I can get my hands on another trophy.”

TOP THREE

1. Stuart Bingham (snooker), 2. Daniel Bentley (football), 3. Max Whitlock (gymnastics)

PANEL’S VERDICT

The past year must surely have been the most successful in south-east Essex sporting history and that made picking just one winner for this award a difficult task.

But Stuart Bingham received more votes than anyone else from our readers and also from the panel and fully deserves the award.

Stuart has been covered by the Echo from a very young age and seeing him fulfil his potential on the biggest possible stage last summer was a truly magical moment.