Two estate agents were hailed as heroes after rushing to help when two raiders robbed Great Clacton post office. Paul Reed, 21, and Mark Thomas, 20, were in the Antony James estate agents office in St John's Road when the robbers struck. "I looked over
A young man who died after falling from a roof on to scaffolding at a building site in Colchester has been named. Carl Ashcroft, 19, lived in Gloucester Avenue, Colchester. Paramedics fought to save the life of the 19-year old after the fall on Monday
Two youngsters are looking forward to their special role when the Queen pays her second visit to Essex University. Special role - Jack Berry and Tilly Wade, both 3, are ready for tomorrow. NICK OBANK (39521-3) Three-year-olds Jack Berry and Tilly Wade
A firm which aims to help small businesses improve their administrative efficiency has been launched by a Colchester couple. The idea came to Paul and Joy Smalley, of Rowhedge, while they were having work done on one of their property projects. Mr Smalley
FIVE Spanish doctors are set to set up practice in Thurrock. Thurrock Primary Care Trust (PCT) has brought in the doctors. Four of them are currently undergoing an intensive course in English and then all five will be taking a course with Anglia Polytechnic
Care homes in Tendring are demanding a fairer deal in the cash they receive for providing residential and nursing services. they claim they are getting much less in fees than other parts of Essex and want the system to be evened up. Care homes in Braintree
Colchester United's 4-1 FA Cup triumph over Mansfield Town was just what the doctor ordered for manager Phil Parkinson. Second round here we come - Sam Stockley, followed by Greg Halford, salutes the U's fans. It was club's first win since their 2-1 triumph
More than half of small businesses in Essex have been the victims of crime, according to a new survey by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The survey of 15,000 firms showed criminal damage with 37 per cent was the biggest cause of crime. Others
Clacton leapfrogged their visitors into second spot after this impressive win. Colchester kept possession well but, with the hosts so well-organised, they were unable to create many chances. Clacton were patient and waited for their opportunities to steal
Residents are calling for action to stop speeding traffic in their village before someone is hurt. People living in Mill Street, St Osyth, claim cars often break the 30mph speed limit. One resident felt so strongly that she wrote to St Osyth Parish Council
A pressure group has claimed that bus passengers were let down by the organisers of a celebration to kick off Christmas in Colchester. The High Street was shut all day on Sunday for a food and drink fair, leading up to the Christmas lights switch-on at
South-East Essex will have two representatives competing in the under-14 age group when the East of England regional netball finals are staged in Bedford on January 22 next year. In the Essex tournament King John School, Thundersley, won all their group
Police are taking the safety message straight to the people they are trying to target. They have put together a CD which will be played in pubs and clubs across the district at the end of the evening to remind revellers of top safety advice. The CD gives
People power has seen Colchester win a shock victory in its bid for a specialist cancer unit. A urology treatment centre will be set up at Colchester General Hospital by 2006. The closely-fought battle saw underdog Essex Rivers NHS Trust fend off a bid
A school has been presented with an award after being highlighted by Essex County Council for special praise. Winners - John Ray Infant School teaching assistants Karen Hamilton and Nikki Lee with pupils Adam Benthan and Sally Reason before their journey
Motorists could soon be faced with handing over more cash to leave their vehicles in Maldon Council's car parks. At a meeting of the council's community services committee last night, members agreed to a recommendation that parking charges in and around
Barry Merchant has been in unbeatable form for Pitsea and Vange's Royal British Legion bowls club, stamping his authority on both the local and regional scene. The club recently won four RBL titles at various venues, with 58-year-old Merchant claiming
Youngsters got a pizza the action when they visited an Italian restaurant for some festive culinary tips. Christmas, Italian-style - Thomas Schlaich, 15, and Rebecca Webb, 14, of the Edith Borthwick School, Braintree, sample seasonal fare in the Italian
Outraged parents say they are disgusted that a headteacher will meet the Queen - while pupils are banned from seeing her. The Harwich School has ruled that lessons will continue as normal tomorrow when the royal makes her first official visit to the town
Detectives investigating an alleged rape have renewed an appeal for a girl's belongings to be found. Identical - shoes like the ones the girl was wearing They have also urged two passers-by who may have witnessed a man and girl near the scene of the incident
Steve Smith has been involved in more big game hunting at Basildon's Aquatels venue. Not content with landing the lake's legendary Sergeant - a 33lb plus carp - two weeks ago, Smith returned with his rods to capture another victim. This time it was a
Controversial plans for a major retail park in Maldon have been given the thumbs-down by town councillors for the fourth time. Developer Dartmouth Park Estates has previously submitted three unsuccessful proposals in the past two years to turn an area
Tributes have been paid to a Frinton student who was found dead in her university digs. The body of former Tendring Technology College pupil Victoria Nie, 22, was discovered by her housemates in Swansea. A spokesman for the town's police said that her
A one-off information centre has opened in Chelmsford. First class - pictured at the opening of Chelmsford Travel and Visitor Information Centre are Stephen Smith, managing director of First in Essex, office manager Nanette Wallace, and Philip Wilson,
English lightweight champion Danny Hunt is determined to learn from his mistakes against title challenger Lee Meager. Leigh boxer Hunt defeated the Mancunian on points at Bethnal Green's York Hall on Friday as he looks to mount a British lightweight belt
A police operation to catch Chelmsford burglars has seen 10 arrests and a reduction in offences. Operation Crackdown is an intelligence gathering initiative and, following three weeks of covert work, officers are now calling on residents to come forward
As Phil Taylor triumphed over Andy Fordham in the PDC versus BDO showdown at Purfleet's Circus Tavern, Witham's Colin Lloyd and Chelmsford's Rod Harrington were preparing for a personal target of their own - the plan to capture a second world title. Lloyd
EAST Thurrock face their biggest challenge of the season on Saturday. Rocks have a Rookery Hill FA Trophy Second Round date with giant-slaying Histon, who humbled Shrewsbury in the FA Cup. They are expected to bring a large following to Corringham and
Colchester United were able to celebrate their first win since they beat Port Vale 2-1 at the start of October. Joy - Richard Garcia (right) is congratulated after opening the scoring at Layer Road last night. Picture: ROB SAMBROOK (39592-4) They booked
The health Trust which covers GPs' surgeries in Braintree and Witham could be almost 3.5 million pounds in the red, official figures have shown. Its projected deficit makes up 40 per cent of this year's estimated overspend by the 13 NHS primary care trusts
Southend United defender Spencer Prior is ready to play through the pain to help the Shrimpers push for promotion. The experienced centre-back missed the Shrimpers' controversial defeat at Yeovil Town on Saturday with a knee injury. But despite not having
Robbers armed with bolt-cutters and a hammer threatened to harm shop staff during a raid in a north Essex village. The crooks made off with nearly five thousand pounds in cash and 450 pounds in savings stamps from a safe following the raid at the Co-op
Clacton chief Alan Dilloway admitted his depleted, weary squad were soundly beaten after bowing out of the Vase at Harefield. Goals on the stroke of half-time, midway through the second period and right at the end were enough to hand the Middlesex side
Motorists speeding along the new A120 have been urged to slow down. The drivers are causing major safety concerns for police, with some being caught travelling at more than 120mph. Since the road opened in July, there have been two deaths and two people
A cache of ammunition - thought to have been buried at the end of the Second World War - has been unearthed at a tourist attraction. Bomb alert - an Army bomb disposal unit works in the trench at Hylands Park where ammunition was discovered. The rusty
Essex received a boost today following the allocation of 41 new community support officers (CSOs), who will work with police to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in com- munities. Neighbourhoods in all 43 force areas will reap the benefits of nearly
