Colchester has scored a hat-trick after receiving another award for being a safe night-time destination.

The city has been awarded Purple Flag accreditation for the third time in a row.

The scheme recognises places committed to creating dynamic, secure and vibrant evening and night-time economies.

The Purple Flag aims to raise standards and broaden the appeal of towns and city centres between the hours of 5pm and 5am.

Colchester Business Improvement District's Vincent Geaves said: "Receiving the Purple Flag for 2025 is a fantastic achievement that reflects the dedication and strong partnership working across the city.

"It's a gold standard for our evening and night-time economy, assuring residents and visitors that Colchester is committed to a safe, enjoyable, and well-managed place to be after 5pm.

"The accreditation is well-deserved recognition for our partners, venues and volunteers, particularly the SOS Bus volunteers and CCTV operatives who all contribute to making our night-time offering so successful."

Key successes highlighted in Colchester's submission included high-quality CCTV and the welfare role played by the Open Road SOS bus.

The tough accreditation process looks at a range of factors and confirms Colchester is a well-managed and enjoyable destination after dark.

The process is assessed over a whole year and culminates in an inspection of the city.