Four Frinton beauty therapists have gained professional qualifications through Braintree College and the Government's Profit from Learning skills scheme. The four work at Perfect Bliss and include owner Rozalind Montgomery. The salon had faced an uncertain
A Canvey man who smuggled millions of pounds of drugs into the UK has been jailed for 14 years. Richard Podd, 38, of Central Avenue, Canvey, was found guilty at St Albans Crown Court for smuggling £4.4 million of Ecstasy, amphetamines and cannabis into
A dog training club lost more than £3,000 of equipment following an arson attack on a shed used as a store. Diana Blackwell, who runs the non-profit-making Bowers Dog Training and Agility Club on ground in Watlington Road, Benfleet, read about the fire
A man has been jailed for eight years for raping a woman at his home. A court heard how Stuart Rochester dragged the woman to a bedroom, tied her to a bed and then raped her in May last year. The woman was discovered in a distressed state later on after
Marie Partner believes the introduction of transfer windows will cause havoc in the Football League. The Colchester United chief executive will have to operate the club under rules which at present only affect the Premiership. Clubs in the top flight
A burglar was told that magistrates were getting to the limits of their power in sentencing him because they could not send the case to crown court. John Paton, of Beach Way, Jaywick, admitted one count of burglary and another of making criminal attempts
Colchester United's FA Cup campaign came to a sad and disappointing end at Blackburn Rovers. Mark Hughes' side were the third Premiership team that Colchester had faced this year and everyone who made the trip to Ewood Park were hoping they were going
Colchester's Colne Housing Society has recruited new staff. New positions include a leasehold co-ordinator, responsible for looking after the society's leasehold properties, and another housing officer to manage all temporary accommodation. Two new customer
Youngsters got a birdseye view of the natural world for a special day of lessons. Great Bentley reception class pupils get up close to a barn owl, tended by Zoe Wilkin. Picture: TERRY WEEDEN 40765-4 To help mark the Big Schools' Bird Watching Day, youngsters
Exam questions about Colchester Britpop band Blur may appeal to examiners more than students. That is the concern of music teacher Nigel Hildreth - who taught Blur frontman Damon Albarn during his days at the Stanway School. Mr Hildreth said he welcomed
A builder has described how he dug up ancient human remains under a house in Colchester. Two men and a trench - Matthew Luetchford and colleague Melvin Kemp show off the hole where they discovered the human remains. Picture: STEVE ARGENT 40838-3 Matthew
Police have been given the go ahead to use tough new powers to disperse gangs of youths terrorising residents on an estate. Teenage tearaways have been making life hell for residents in Eastwood - vandalising and graffiting homes, ripping down fences,
A headteacher has claimed that a new registration system introduced at his school contributed to a rise in truancy figures. In September, the school introduced truancy call, which is an electronic system where parents receive a phone message if their
A daring daylight raid saw 15 laptop computers stolen from a car outside a Colchester hotel. The thieves broke into the vehicle at the Holiday Inn, Eight Ash Green, yesterday within view of CCTV cameras. Police were today hunting the crooks who got away
Neighbours have paid tribute to a "devoted" husband and jazz fan who lost his life 17 days after an explosion in his home left him severely burned. Peter Kirby, 71, of Mercer Road, Billericay, died in Chelmsford's Broomfield Hospital more than two weeks
Factory employees became the stars of a hit TV crime series when the cast and crew of Midsomer Murders took over their workplace. The ITV1 drama, which stars John Nettles, spent four days at Tiptree Jam Factory to film the episode 'Sauce for the Goose
SOUTHEND United striker Freddy Eastwood is hoping to fire the Shrimpers to another spectacular victory over Swansea at the Vetch Field tomorrow. The 21-year-old, from Basildon, netted a hat-trick on his Blues debut against the Swans in October and is
Essex Eels face an injury crisis as they prepare for their Challenge Cup debut on Saturday. The Pro-Plumb sponsored club entertain Elland at their new home in Gloucester Park, Basildon, in the first round of the prestigious knock-out competition. But
EXPERIENCED Saracens prop Kevin Yates put Southend's National Division Three South squad through its paces at Warner's Bridge this week. The Zurich Premiership star - who has been capped twice by England and also played for Bath, Sale and the Wellington
Sixth-formers from Harwich have won a countywide business plan competition. Run by Business Link for Essex and Link-Ed, the competition is for schools throughout Essex to develop business plans to support a local product or service idea. Winners William
West Ham's second string suffered a crushing defeat in a hastily-rescheduled Premier Res-erve League South game. The match was moved forward because of Ham-mers' FA Youth Cup date with Leyton Orient on February 16, but the even-ing did little to encourage
Southend's mayor is to march on Downing Street demanding Government action to stop services being slashed because of drastic budget cuts. Roger Weaver sounded a battle cry urging people to join him and other councillors in their Valentine's Day protest
The deprived state of Jaywick is to be taken up with Prime Minister Tony Blair. Residents are growing increasingly concerned about their environment - and feel they need to highlight the matter at the very top. They are compiling a dossier of photographs
Colchester United's FA Cup campaign came to a sad and disappointing end at Blackburn Rovers. Mark Hughes' side were the third Premiership team that Colchester had faced this year and everyone who made the trip to Ewood Park were hoping they were going
Plans for futuristic high-rise flats on Westcliff seafront have been thrown out. An application by developers Halo Homes to build the apartment blocks in the Leas, Westcliff, was rejected by nine votes to six by Southend Council development control committee
A dentist says he will fight tooth and nail to prevent bulldozers demolishing his surgery to make way for a new shopping complex. Here to stay - Ali Danesh's dental surgery has been earmarked for demolition to make way for a new shopping complex Picture
Three families were left homeless after fire engulfed a row of terraced houses. Firefighters believe the blaze, which ripped through the terraced two-storey homes in Somercotes, Laindon, was started by a boy playing with an aerosol can. Flames and smoke
Colchester United's FA Cup campaign came to a sad and disappointing end at Blackburn Rovers. Mark Hughes' side were the third Premiership team that Colchester had faced this year and everyone who made the trip to Ewood Park were hoping they were going
Provisional approval has been given to a range of measures designed to improve on-street parking in Colchester. Richard Gower, Colchester's portfolio holder for transportation, said a review had showed there was a need to change the borough's parking
Worried residents have again drawn attention to a dangerous corner on a Colchester road. A long-running combination of poor parking and motorists driving too fast along Speedwell Road, Old Heath, has meant frequent collisions - and residents fear a serious
Plans for a sports centre refurbishment costing £370,000 have been agreed in principle. Braintree Council's Witham Area Committee agreed on Tuesday night to support a range of improvements planned by DC Leisure which runs Bramston Sports Centre in Witham
An investigation was launched today after a woman's body was found on a dual carriageway, after it was struck by a police vehicle. Scene - where the woman's body was found today. Picture: ADRIAN RUSHTON 40820-3 The incident happened just before 1.30am
Chinese headteachers and professors visited a school to learn about innovation and creativity in British teaching. Greetings - Chinese delegation leader Niawu Wang meets Tabor School head Steven Clark watched by delegates and Kate Morrissey and Chris
Tendring has the biggest skills shortage of anywhere in Essex, it has been revealed. A report by Essex University researchers claims that a serious shortage across the county as a whole is threatening its prosperity. It says that almost one in three adults
POPULAR long-standing member Colin Tucker drove in as Rochford Hundred's new club captain in front of a full house. He followed up a very successful inaugural dinner with the traditional drive-in which saw his tee shot finish around 200 yards away. Keith
Youngsters are looking after their pennies for the future. Keen savers - Alton Park pupils, with headteacher Steve Morgan, queue up to put their cash into a new savings club at the school run by Liz Kearley and Karen Lawrence Picture: TERRY WEEDEN 40760
An electrical store has handed over the first of more than 200 DVD players to a children's charity. Welcome gifts - Georgina Rhymes, Parc business development manager, receives the DVD players from Neil Ryan, Bose acting store manager, Ben Drizen, assistant
A Braintree man has been arrested after a 16-year old boy was stabbed in the chest. The incident happened on Monday at about 10.30pm in Bradwell-on-Sea. An ambulance was called to the scene where the teenager was found with a stab wound to his chest.
Signposts put up by a private company telling people to keep off their land in Heybridge have caused alarm to residents living nearby, who claim to have been using it for years. Ready Mix Concrete (RMC), which owns Chigborough Lakes, near Drapers Lane
A school crossing saga is "ludicrous" and putting children's lives at risk, according to councillors Harwich Town Council on Tuesday night criticised the local education authority for having safety measures outside a closed school while nothing has been
A woman woke up to find a teenager in her home who had been sick at the top of the stairs after drinking at a party in another house. Insp Paul Butcher, of Clacton police, said the woman raised the alarm and the teenager was taken out of her home. But
There was a surprise in store at the final performance of Dick Whittington in Maldon. The Maldon Pantomime Society's 12th annual production was drawing to a clos when Maldon MP John Whittingdale made a shock appearance on stage as Alderman Fitzwarren.
A traveller from Crays Hill is set to stand for election to Essex County Council this year in a bid to fight off eviction. The candidate, who will be formally selected next week, will campaign solely against Basildon Council's plans to evict 50 families
A school class took a step back in time for a history lesson. Taking a break - dance teacher Margaret Cave and White Court Primary School year one pupils take time out from their rock'n'roll lessons. Picture: NICK OBANK 40797-1 Pupils from year one at
Help is at hand for business and community groups in the Maldon district who want to set up a web site and keep it safe from the hackers. Maldon eBusiness club is holding a short series of free meetings for business and community groups on the benefits
THE veteran ladies from Westcliff Lawn have booked a final spot in the Essex LTA winter knockout competition. Sarah O'Sullivan, Hazel Wynn, Lynn May, Sarah Ball, Gill Sanderson and Vanessa Powell enjoyed a 3-0 win over Wanstead club Aldersbrook in the
Colchester United's chief executive believes the introduction of transfer windows will cause havoc in the Football League. Marie Partner will have to operate the club under rules which at present only affect the Premiership. Clubs in the top flight cannot
David Unsworth has revealed the main reason for accepting a loan switch to Ipswich Town - the chance to be reunited with Blues boss Joe Royle. The Portsmouth defender has joined until the end of the season - the first time in his illustrious career he
A LANGDON Hills lad will be living out every school boy's dream when he pulls the three lions jersey over his head and runs out with the England football team. Goalkeeper, Ricky Wiseman, 18, of Broomfields, Langdon Hills, is struggling to take it all
Seven members of the Third Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, based in Colchester, are being investigated in connection with the death of an Iraqi civilian. It is alleged that the paratroopers were involved in an incident at a checkpoint near Basra in
Young dancers have joined the battle to save Eastwood Community Centre. The centre is one of several across Southend that could be closed by Southend Council as the authority looks to make massive cuts to its budget. Dance teacher Pamela Freedman, who
Teenagers begging at Harwich port have sparked concern for ferry passengers. British Transport Police say teenagers, aged 14 and 15, have begun begging money from passengers as they arrive at and depart from Harwich International Port. They have stressed
Essex star Darren Gough had reason to celebrate after helping England to a dramatic tie in the second One Day International against South Africa. The pace ace bowled ten overs at the expense of 49 runs - and claimed the wicket of Justin Kemp -as the hosts
Marie Partner believes the introduction of transfer windows will cause havoc in the Football League. The Colchester United chief executive will have to operate the club under rules which at present only affect the Premiership. Clubs in the top flight
Hollywood actor Clive Owen has bought a house in the Harwich area. The Oscar-nominated star moved into his substantial new home yesterday. Mr Owen, currently featuring in the award-winning film Closer, said he was happy to be moving into the area. He
Many Essex small businesses are run by people who refuse to delegate. The Essex branch of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) agrees with a survey which says poor delegation is a main reason why many small business bosses do not take enough time
Braintree boxer Jeff Temperley believes his new manager could hold the key to him making it in the professional game. Because he is 34, heavyweight Temperley only has a slim chance of claiming a British Boxing Board of Control licence. He is currently
A lorry driver accused of causing death by dangerous driving has been remanded in custody. Alexis Degrendele - charged with causing death by dangerous driving 40837-1 Alexis Degrendele, 28, of France, did not give an indication of his pleas during a short
A town clerk who missed out on the Queen's visit because of an accident has been invited to Buckingham Palace. Denise Humphris, clerk at Harwich Town Council, was instrumental in organising many of Harwich's Charter 400 celebrations, including Party in
