Seven Colchester soldiers are to face court martial over the alleged murder of an Iraqi civilian. The Army Prosecuting Board has directed the men - all from the 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment should be tried by court martial. They will be charged
Paramedics said a young woman was "incredibly lucky" to escape serious injury after her car left the road, rolling several times before ending up in a field. Crash horror - firefighters examine one of the cars involved in the collision at the Bromley
A plea has been made for the preservation of an historic pub. 600 years old - the award-winning hostelry Ye Olde Cherry Tree, Little Oakley. 40888-a The call comes after the landlords of award-winning hostelry Ye Olde Cherry Tree in Little Oakley resigned
The mum of a 15-year-old boy killed in a car crash was today praised for playing a key role in winning changes to driving laws. The Government revealed today that it is planning a new offence of causing death by careless driving - with a maximum prison
Basildon Council was today in crisis after what was described as the "most disgraceful ever" meeting of councillors. Opposition Labour and LibDem members were considering their next moves after last night's special meeting on plans for waste disposal
A major new football complex in Heybridge should soon be coming under the public spotlight. The project, at Elms Farm, was given the go-ahead by Maldon District Council in October for a public consultation to take place. Discussions are about to begin
A maritime museum looks set to open in time for the Rowhedge Regatta. Plans for a £4,000 temporary heritage centre off the River Colne are awaiting approval from Colchester Council. The Rowhedge Heritage Trust wants to fill the boat shed-type building
Yobs are putting lives at risk by taking pot shots at buses. The 31X service run by First Essex Buses has been targeted on two consecutive nights by people firing air rifles in Maldon town centre. On Monday evening the 8.30pm Burnham to Chelmsford service
A man fled after he was spotted performing an indecent act in a Colchester charity shop. He was seen by two women who were trying on clothes in the St Helena store, Head Street at 3pm on Wednesday A Colchester police spokesman said the man then made his
A man whose body was discovered following a fire at his home has been identified. Malcolm Thomas Griffiths, 64, was found dead at his bungalow in Pattison Close, Witham, shortly after 11am on Monday. He was the seventh person to die in a house fire in
A teenager who stole £600 of cigarettes and alcohol was jailed. Andrew Maltman, 19, admitted burgling Chris and Dave's Family Store in Bergholt Road, Colchester. Maltman, who lives in Kings Lynn, admitted the offence was in breach of his prison licence
Phil Parkinson has said the bust-up at Bloomfield Road is all forgotten. The Colchester United manager has put the unsavoury incident that occurred at Blackpool last October in the past as he prepares his troops for the Seasiders' visit to Layer Road
Bungling council workers have shredded thousands of daffodils in a memorial garden which were just about to bloom in the springtime. Residents living close to the Garden of Hope in Thundersley Common were devastated as they discovered the daffodils which
Drissa Diallo admits he is facing a 'crucial' few days in his quest to recover from injury. The Ipswich Town defender has been out for six weeks with a hamstring problem. He saw a specialist last week who reported no major damage and gave the player a
People living in Maldon's Wantz Road have won their battle to get authorities to slow down traffic. Maldon District Council's planning committee has agreed to put a new zebra crossing on the busy road, near its junctions with America Street and Wantz
Raiders smashed open the gates of a yard and stole a lorry and £250,000 of designer quilts. The gates of the yard in Maudlyn Road, in the Hythe area of Colchester, were found to have been rammed after thieves drove off with the Leyland Daf vehicle. A
Sheffield United will be gunning for revenge when they entertain old rivals Ipswich Town. The Blades were severely blunted in the sides' first match this season left red-faced after a 5-1 demolition at Portman Road. Now they are hell-bent on restoring
Residents evacuated a block of flats after a blaze started in a kitchen. Firefighters believe the fire started when the 42-year-old occupant of one of the flats left a pan unattended for a short while. This was enough for it to catch fire and then take
Bloodstains left on doorhandles at a Witham house led to the arrest of a man with a long record of dishonesty. A court heard how the stains were traced back to 39-year-old Dennis Gallagher and when he was arrested, he apologised for the burglary. He was
A family today told how they have been left with "only the clothes on our backs" after fire ripped through their home. Partners Chris Andrews, 39, and Paula Graham, 37, said their terraced house in Somercotes, Laindon, was virtually destroyed by the blaze
Teachers whose wedding plans were disrupted by the Boxing Day tsunami have finally walked down the aisle. Steve Haycock and Wendy Lee, of Morant Road, New Town, Colchester, had planned a dream wedding in Sri Lanka, but that had to be cancelled after the
Fraudsters have struck in Maldon with forged bank notes. The incidents have come only a week after police warned shopkeepers in Maldon about people trying to use fake notes. Ray Stannard, crime reduction officer at Maldon police, said several businesses
Richard Naylor is keeping an open-mind about Ipswich Town's title chances - and believes they can still be overtaken by tomorrow's opponents Sheffield United. Many fans and pundits are suggesting the race for the top two is a fight between three teams
Daytime television's golden couple Richard and Judy are returning to north Essex again this summer to open a fete. Nearly 1,000 people turned out last year to the annual event at New Copford Place, Colchester, where Judy Finnigan and Richard Madeley were
The first time Blackpool met Colchester United this season will sadly be remembered for all the wrong reasons. In history, the 1-1 draw will be considered a good away point for United. However, at present the memories of the maul that followed an incident
Investigations are continuing into the death of a woman who was found on the A120. The 33-year-old, from Braintree, was struck by a police vehicle on the Colchester-bound track of the A120, just before the Notley Road bridge, at just before 1.30am yesterday
A charity was today celebrating scooping more than £40,000 to help it set up a new project in Clacton. Help the Aged has been awarded the lottery cash and hopes to get the initiative off the ground in April. The money will be used to provide a range of
An artistic family are selling their pictures in memory of a relative who died of cancer. Tribute - Steve Downey, with daughters Emily Heppel and Jo Downey, and grand-daughter Ionie, are selling pictures in memory of wife and mum Maureen, who died of
There's good and bad news on the suspension front for Canvey Island as they attempt to continue their love affair with non-league soccer's top knockout competition, the FA Trophy, tomorrow afternoon. Steve Ward returns from a one-match ban for the fourth
A family born-and-bred in a village have hit out at "disgusting" anonymous letters sent to homes Family plot - landowner Nelson Taylor on the site where he wants to build homes for his children and brother with the anonymous letter from the Tiptree Action
An injury-hit Braintree are desperate for a victory. The ravaged Black and Ambers squad travel to Bury St Edmunds tomorrow and must return with the points in their efforts to avoid relegation from Powergen London League division three north east. Braintree
The Arriva driver was punched in the face by a man wearing a chunky sovereign ring, leaving him bruised and with blurred vision. Doctors have told him he may need an operation on the back of his eye if his sight does not improve. The attack happened at
The first time Blackpool met Colchester United this season will sadly be remembered for all the wrong reasons. In history, the 1-1 draw will be considered a good away point for United. However, at present the memories of the maul that followed an incident
A single mother who had been drinking claimed she had to drive because she feared her children would be kidnapped. Paula Phillips, 25, admitted having two vodkas on a night out with friends in Colchester on September 15, 2004. The defendant, who has two
A school will take on a futuristic look if plans to sell off some of its land go ahead. Billericay School wants to use the money it would get to turn the former farmland into a housing estate to launch a £7million scheme which would create a new sports
A bit of East End glamour could become the main attraction at a football club's games. For Braintree Town's latest signing Tommy Williams is dating EastEnders star Michelle Ryan. The couple have been dating for 18 months. Fans of the non-league Ryman
Southend United skipper Kevin Maher is urging his side to keep their cool at Swansea City tonight. The Shrimpers have been handed seven red cards in their last six visits to the volatile Vetch Field. But the former Tottenham Hotspur trainee is hoping
Police today warned drivers to avoid a busy stretch of the A13 which is creating a major headache for motorists. The replacement of a 450-metre stretch of gas pipes between the Victoria House roundabout and the Waggon and Horses pub on the A13 in Hadleigh
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dean Marney has been selected for the England U21 squad. The Canvey-based youngster has impressed for the Premiership side in recent weeks - scoring twice in nine games - and has now made Peter Taylor's line up for the forthcoming
Suspects who have skipped court hearings face being rounded up by a police operation. Essex police are taking part in the national effort, called Operation Turn-Up, which is likely to see officers raiding homes from Monday. They have already written to
A Heybridge woman has been highlighted as a successful example of getting people on sickness benefit back to work. Carer Maxine Meadows, who found a less physically demanding job after six years off with severe back pain, was cited as an example of the
On paper it should be a straightforward three points when West Ham entertain struggling Cardiff City on Sunday. The Bluebirds languish just five points above the relegation zone, while their shot-shy forwards have hit a meagre 33 goals to date. Indeed
A new initiative to clamp down on crime and anti-social behaviour in a seaside resort has been hailed a success. Operation Chicken Run was set up to tackle issues in Jaywick. The aim is to put pressure on thieves, drug dealers and those causing problems
A bid to convert a house into an autistic care home has been approved. Colchester Council's planning committee last night backed plans for the home for young adults in Seaview Avenue, West Mersea. Eighty-seven residents had signed a protest petition against
An angry mother has hit out at "ignorant and laughable" comments made by Mersea residents about autism sufferers. Tracey Gwilliam, of Morley Road, Tiptree, couldn't believe her eyes when she read that nearly 90 Mersea residents had put together a petition
A teenager has appealed for help to get his BMX bike back and his family is offering a £50 reward. Stolen bike - Jake Ward is desperate to get his bike back. Picture: STEVE BRADING 40890-c Jake Ward, 13, who goes to Colbayns High School, Clacton, left
A workman has suffered a hand injury after it got caught in machinery. The accident happened at the Dock Company in High Street, Mistley, at about 4.20pm yesterday. An ambulance service spokesman said: "The man got his right hand caught between a crowbar
A 20-tonne lorry was stolen from a Colchester industrial estate. The £5,000 gates were rammed to get the Leyland Daf vehicle out of the Maudlyn Road site in the Hythe. Anyone with information is asked to call Colchester police on 01206 762212 with information
Take a break - with one of businessman Kelvin Bygrave's spare 27,000 KitKats. Anyone want one? Businessman Kelvin Bygrave with a mountain of KitKats he is giving away once he's used the wrappers to buy a car in the KitKash promotion. Picture: STEVE BRADING
A trader has warned he may take action against Essex County Council if footway works being carried out in Maldon High Street continue at the rate they are going. Businesses being affected by the highways maintenance work at the top of the High Street
Phil Parkinson has said the bust-up at Bloomfield Road is all forgotten. The Colchester United manager has put the unsavoury incident that occurred at Blackpool last October in the past as he prepares his troops for the Seasiders' visit to Layer Road
