Halstead's MP has been promoted into a ministerial position in David Cameron’s reshuffle of his front bench.

It was announced on Tuesday that Conservative’s Brooks Newmark was appointed minister for civil society as part of the prime minister’s shake-up of his cabinet ahead of the next general election.

Mr Newmark, who won his seat in the town in 2005 and has sat on the treasury select committee since 2012, will work in the cabinet office alongside David Cameron and Nick Clegg dealing with charities and the voluntary sector.

He replaces Nick Hurd, who tweeted: “Brooks Newmark is an old friend and I am relieved and delighted that he is picking up baton. A very decent and thoughtful man.”

See this week's Braintree and Witham Times for the full story.