AND now for something completely different. Whereas in previous weeks we've had snow, lights and some chubby bloke in a red suit putting himself about a bit this week's events are as far away from the normal festive fayre as you can imagine. Of course
Colchester United's youngsters will be aiming to write another new chapter of FA Youth Cup giant-killing history tonight. Joe Dunne's Layer Road whizz-kids are all fired up for some red-blooded third round action against Aston Villa at Villa Park. And
More than 2,000 calls have been received from the public, offering information to help detectives investigating the murders of three Ipswich prostitutes. Police revealed that between 6am and 11pm yesterday, Suffolk Constabulary had received 2,199 calls
South Africa fast bowler Andre Nel will return to Essex County Cricket Club for his second spell with the County in 2007. Subject to formal approval from the South African Cricket Board the 29-year-old is set to play for Essex during the first half of
The tail-end of a tornado hit Braintree with force when lightning hit the town museum. The town centre museum almost had to call off its late-night shopping event after a bolt from the blue hit the building's lightning conductor and caused the electricity
A murder victim's mother today said she knows what the family and friends of dead prostitute Anneli Alderton are going through. Ann Oakes Odger lost her son, Westley, in a knife attack in Colchester last September. She wrote on the Evening Gazette's
A newspaper delivery boy has been left without a bike after THREE of his cycles were trashed by vandals. Liam Tilbury, who delivers the Evening Gazette, spent his hard-earned cash on a new bike after his first bicycle was damaged at Clacton County High
A man who was told he would be dead by 30 if he did not lose weight has scooped a national fitness award. Christopher Hibbert, of Clacton, was 18 stone, battling high blood pressure and warned that diabetes and heart problems were just around the corner
A pensioner says his Christmas has been ruined by thieves who stole his mobility scooter. Patrick O'Neill, of Great Clacton, left the £3,500 vehicle outside Somerfield in Clacton, then went to Our Lady of Light catholic church on the town's seafront.
A teenager was attacked with a metal pole outside a Witham takeaway. The 15-year-old boy suffered a head wound and needed three hours of reconstructive surgery for a broken finger after the attack in Newland Street. He was in Mega Fast Food when a youth
A vandalised Christmas tree is to be restored to its former glory thanks to an anonymous donor. Witham Rotary Club members were left fuming after vandals lopped the top off the 30ft tree they had put up in Newland Street and broke three-quarters of the
Tributes have been paid to "a wonderful, beautiful, talented, devoted and loving" teacher who has died at the age of 28. Chantele Adady, who taught at Alec Hunter Humanities College in Braintree, died suddenly of natural causes at her home in Brisbane
A burglary victim returned home to see thieves loading a minicab with his belongings. Police were called to Chappel Hill, Chappel, after the man witnessed £2,500 of his possessions being loaded into a stolen cab. The getaway car was found a short while
A religious society fears its meetings will be ruined by noise if a bar is allowed to open early. Edward's in Colchester wants to start serving at 10am on Sunday mornings. However, the Head Street bar backs on to the Friends' Meeting House where Quakers
Don't tell the children - one of Father Christmas's helpers is hanging up his sack and calling it a day. For 21 years Russell Cottis has delighted thousands of children by pulling on his Santa outfit and big white beard so they can tell him what they
Parents have been reassured that a suspected attempt to abduct a child from a Braintree school did not take place. Letters had been sent to parents advising them to be vigilant after a man in a red van, claiming to be a taxi driver, attempted to snatch
Firefighters spent nearly two hours rescuing a pony which had fallen into an empty swimming pool. Crews were alerted to School Lane, Great Wigborough near Colchester, yesterday afternoon, after the owner discovered the animal walking around the deep
A fourth man has been charged with murder in relation to a shooting. John Ward received a fatal gunshot wound to the neck after he answered the door to his house in Point Clear Road, St Osyth, in March. Martin Valentine, of Viola Close, South Ockendon
A unique project to help disabled people find jobs faces closure, despite celebrating record success rates. The six-month course gave people training and work experience with firms. The scheme was run by learning disability charity Mencap, but now Government
The police officer leading the investigation into Anneli's murder has appealed for anyone who saw her before her death to come forward. Det Chief Supt Stewart Gull, who is leading the investigation, said: "A passing motorist believes he saw the body
Detectives in Essex have been drafted in to hunt for a serial killer after the bodies of two more women were found in Suffolk. The grim discovery made by a walker near Ipswich brings the tally of dead women found in the area to five. The victims include
Police chief Jacqui Cheer, who made a personal appeal for information to track down the killer, has her roots in Essex. Assistant Chief Constable Cheer, 43, has been in charge at Suffolk Police for just four months. She served for 22 years with Essex
Murder victim Anneli Alderton appeared at Colchester Court earlier this year. She wept in the dock as magistrates heard how she attacked a police officer. The court case in August heard that Anneli kicked the officer after she was arrested for being
CCTV footage at Essex railway stations will be checked by police in a bid to piece together the last movements of murdered prostitute Anneli Alderton. The 24-year-old, who lived in Harwich and Colchester, was discovered in woodland at Nacton, near Ipswich
An Essex mother has spoken of her grief after her daughter was murdered and her body found dumped in woodland. Anneli Alderton, 24, is one of the five victims of a Suffolk serial killer. Essex Police have joined the hunt for the murderer after two more
