Time is running out for residents in Essex to have their say on plans for gipsy and traveller pitches around the county. Different options are available for pitches in the county, which could see Colchester get either six or 15, while Tendring would
Hospital bosses have insisted bed closures on two wards for elderly people are based on statistics, not money saving. Figures from the Trust which runs Colchester General Hospital shows in the first 11 days of July there were 130 emergency admissions
Charity water-biker Justin Humphrey has had to be rescued off the coast of Scotland - just days after setting off on his challenge. Mr Humphrey, who is raising money for the local RNLI with his 2,200-mile journey, had to be rescued by lifeboatmen after
Campaigners will fight to save a bus route from the chop. First Essex is cutting its 78 service between Brightlingsea and Colchester next month. It will leave passengers without public transport between the towns in the evenings and on Sundays. People
A student was taken to hospital after he was robbed and beaten in a "sustained" attack on his way home from a night out. The victim was ambushed by a gang of men as he walked along a path running from Essex University to student digs in the Hythe. The
Wanted - Jailbirds with far-reaching travel ambitions - that's the appeal from four Essex charities. Diabetes UK, Essex Autistic Society, Essex Air Ambulance and Open Road are joining forces for the Colchester Charity Jailbreak, in which participants
Controversial plans to deal with Essex's growing problem of waste will be scrutinised by a new group. A cross-party group of Essex councillors has been formed to deal with the solution of the future of waste. At yesterday's full council meeting, council
What happens to Essex's schools is, it seems, down to one woman. Tracey Chapman sits on the county council's cabinet. She holds the brief for education as portfolio holder for schools, children and families. It sounds innocuous enough; even comfortable
A battle group has been formed by parents determined to keep open a school threatened with closure. Alderman Blaxill School, in Shrub End, Colchester, is fighting for survival after it was put in special measures. Parents who met last night have started
Firefighters are not being allowed to recycle their rubbish, because the council won't pick up from their station. Empty packaging created by almost 80 firefighters is still being put in landfill sites. Dozens of plastic bottles, glass, and tin cans
ESSEX can become a great' one-day side if they can win the Pro40 League for the third year running, says all-rounder Ravinder Bopara. The 22-year-old was a major player in the county's back-to-back title wins in 2005 and 2006 - scoring 419 runs and taking
A STRONG Ipswich Town side slipped to a heavy 3-0 defeat to Blue Square Premier side Stevenage Borough in a pre-season friendly. A Town side featuring the likes of Alan Lee, Jason De Vos and Owen Garvan suffered their first pre-season loss at Broadhall
COLCHESTER United manager Geraint Williams has admitted it was a tough decision to allow young midfielder Robbie King to leave the club. The U's have decided to release youth product King, with his chances of first-team football at Layer Road limited
MIDFIELD ace Johnnie Jackson has insisted Colchester United will be able to cope with the break-up of last season's successful team. This summer, the U's have lost key players in Jamie Cureton, Chris Iwelumo, Richard Garcia and Wayne Brown from the squad
Residents have called for more police in their town after a gang violently attacked a couple. Nearly 30 people signed a petition asking for increased patrols in Wivenhoe. The petition was produced by councillor Peter Hill at a meeting of Wivenhoe Town
Sporting superstar Dame Kelly Holmes has been encouraging children to get active during school. Dame Kelly has been issuing a sporting challenge to schools across the region as part of her new role as national schools sport champion. During a visit
Police were called out after six youths were seen throwing stones while a bus driver was at the wheel. The incident at a bus depot in Hawthorn Avenue, Colchester, ended with a teenager being arrested on suspicion of holding an offensive weapon - a baseball
A leprosy charity boss branded people from Bangladesh "snakes" as he believed they were dishonest, a tribunal has heard. Lepra chief executive Terry Vasey repeated the remark a number of times in the presence of Bangladeshi employee Rokunuz Zaman, also
A woman was in a serious condition today after a three-car crash involving an elderly cyclist. The pile-up happened at the junction of Church Road and Maldon Road, Tiptree. Two cars collided - causing one of them to lose control and hit the 82-year-old
Scores of criminals are on the run after committing crimes in north Essex, the Gazette can reveal. Some of those wanted are rape and drugs suspects, being hunted after being allowed out on bail before facing their charge at crown court. Others have
There are fears that abandoned rubbish could lead to a rat problem in a Clacton street. Residents of Penfold Road are unhappy that bags of household waste are being left outside the former Warners Guest House, which has been converted into bedsits.
A ferry company has launched an investigation after four men plummeted 50ft into the water while carrying out work on a rescue boat. The men were on the boat as it was being hoisted up the side of the Stena Britannica superferry. When the lifeboat fell
Plans for a state-of-the-art medical centre are to be dramatically scaled down after health bosses miscalculated the number of patients who would use it. The proposed Great Clacton and Holland-on-Sea Primary Care Centre, in Kennedy Way, which was expected
Coastal recorder players are ending the school year on a high note. The young players from Walton's Hamford School have won a top contest - for the third time. The ensemble beat off schools from across north Essex to take the Colchester Rotary Club
A seaside council has rubbished claims it is the second dirtiest district in Essex and Suffolk. Tendring is litter-plagued and rubbish-ridden according to a report by public sector union GMB. Apparently a quarter of its streets have a litter problem
Four generations of a family were left devastated after an arsonist burned down their beach hut. Jill Bird and partner Paul Millar had bought the hut in Holland-on-Sea last month, and spent almost £1,000 on it. Nothing remains of their investment after
A family escaped with their lives after an arsonist started a fire outside their home. The housebound man, his wife and five children only realised they were in danger when a quick-thinking baker raised the alarm. Police today praised his prompt action
