OVER 3,000 sporting youngsters, aged nine to 15, took part in the Essex Youth Games in Southend.

The combined Epping and Harlow team (pictured above) won the event last year but they couldn't quite manage to defend their title in a tight contest.

They finished fourth overall, just a few points behind winners Castle Point and Rochford.

Epping and Harlow won two events the girls year 8 & 9 rugby and the mixed able bodied and disabled year 9 & 10 athletics.

The team's other results were: girls basketball years 7 & 8 seventh, year 9 & 10 sixth; boys basketball years 7 & 8 sixth, years 9 & 10 seventh; girls cricket years 9 & 10 sixth; girls football years 7 & 8 fourth, years 9 & 10 second; girls hockey years 8 & 9 seventh; boys hockey years 8 & 9 fifth; girls netball years 7 & 8 fifth; mixed rugby years 5 & 6 fourth; mixed able bodied and disabled swimming years 5 & 6 fourth; mixed tennis years 8 & 9 third.