Harlow Liberal Democrats received a 'Highly Commended' award at the Liberal Democrats' annual East of England conference in Huntingdon.

The award, for membership, was presented by the party's president Simon Hughes MP, and received by local party chairman David Wright.

Seven local parties in the East of England were short-listed for the regional membership award. Harlow followed just behind the outright winner, Chelmsford. Local party chairman David Wright said:

"Over the past year, membership of Harlow Liberal Democrats has risen by 25 per cent, at a time when the membership of many parties is falling.

Party leader Nick Clegg has launched a challenge to knock on a million doors across the UK, and our members here in Harlow are working hard to deliver their share of this.

Under Nick Clegg's leadership, the Liberal Democrats have a strong statement of our vision and values, and are the only party in Britain today with a serious and credible plan to get Britain's economy back on its feet."