THE Federation of Small Businesses has celebrated reaching the 4,000 member mark in Essex, alongside a visit to the county by FSB national secretary Dave Stallon.

The 4,000th member was Kerryanne Gill of networking organisation Atlantean Body, who is based in Stanway, near Colchester.

Mr Stallon presented her with prizes of a meal for two at The Lemon Tree, Colchester, also an Essex FSB member, and a bottle of Champagne.

Essex FSB chairman Iain Wicks said membership in the county had grown by 21% last year.

Mr Stallon added: “Essex FSB has done extremely well to achieve such an increase in membership in the last year and I was delighted to make the presentation to Kerryanne as I am confident she will get a lot from her membership.”