Amy Trigg wins Colchester New Comedian of the Year 2016

Amy Trigg has won this year's Colchester New Comedian of the Year competition.

Trigg was picked by the judges from the 10 acts who took part in the final, which took place at the Colchester Arts Centre on Sunday 16th October, as part of the fourth annual Colchester Comedy Festival.

A 24 year-old actress from the Essex town of Witham, she had never performed stand-up before winning entering the competition.

Amy, who is a wheelchair user, triumphed over tough competition at the final via a sketch about a business-based disability focus group which, whilst very well meaning, becomes quickly inappropriate. The competition organisers said her performance featured "an incredible range of comedy characters that could give Catherine Tate or Laura Solon a run for their money."

Trigg, who recently set up an Essex-based comedy improv group called Lady's Inconvenience, was awarded a £100 prize and is now planning to perform at more comedy shows in the region.

Second place in the competition went to Essex University graduate Sam Smedley. The judges said he "clearly has a bright future in comedy with his likeable laconic style of stand-up dealing effortlessly with issues such as racism and cat ownership."

Peterborough's Jay Islaam was third, with Wivenhoe act Jo Fletcher-Cross and Colchester's Lee Ashcroft coming joint fourth and fifth. Also taking part in the final were Ali Warwood, Olly Watson, Si Deaves, Paul Merryck and Pauline Eyre. Colchester Comedy Festival said: "All the finalists were great!"

The Colchester New Comedian of the Year competition originated with Wivenhoe Funny Farm has been running since 2008. It was renamed Colchester New Comedian of the Year in 2011 and has been a regular part of Colchester Comedy Festival since it was launched in 2013. Previous winners and finalists include Ben Clover, Edd Hedges, Ben Van Der Velde, Jessica Fostekew and Cheekykita. It will return next year.