Parents and students booking limousines for their proms are being warned to check the company they choose is properly licensed. PC Harry Sexton, a commercial transport investigator for Essex Police, is offering to check the details of limousine operators
FOUR hotels across the Colchester and Tendring district have been targeted by credit card fraudsters. A man has been phoning hotels in the region and pretending to be a police officer. He claims he is investigating credit card fraud and asks the receptionists
EASTER is set to go with a bang in Clacton. A free giant fireworks display at the end of the pier will light up the skies after 8pm on Sunday, with hundreds of spectators expected to line the seafront to watch the rockets and bangers. Undercover and
Vehicles will remain banned on a stretch of promenade due to safety fears. Tendring Council shut off a length of the lower prom at Holland-on-Sea last year, after serious erosion threatened the stability of the sea wall. With no improvements since then
FURIOUS villagers are fighting plans for a reservoir. More than 100 residents packed Great Bromley village hall to hear proposals for a farm reservoir. Martin Frostick, chairman of Great Bromley Parish Council, said all but one was opposed to the scheme
A SERIAL killer has applied for permission to appeal against his conviction for killing five prostitutes. Steve Wright was last month unanimously convicted by a jury at Ipswich Crown Court of murdering the five women, including Colchester vice girl Anelli
The only field in St John's, Colchester, where youngsters can play sport could be covered with 450 homes. Persimmon Special Projects wants to build the houses on fields and playing fields next to Bullock Wood. The site is off Woodview Close and St John's
Bigger and better than ever - that's the promise from organisers of Colchester's Party in the Park. There's also a change to the programme with the Tribute to the Giants night moved to the Saturday and the Last Night of the Proms being replaced with
A COLCHESTER school will undergo a multi-million-pound transformation this summer. Work is set to begin in August on a £2 million extension at St Benedict's College in Norman Way. The new building will house four music practise rooms, a drama studio
Police are investigating the attempted abduction of a schoolgirl in Colchester. The youngster was walking along Winstree Road, at about 8am today when she was stopped by a strange man. He pulled up alongside her and asked her to get in his car. The
THOUSANDS of people from north Essex face disruption on the roads and railway this Easter. Engineering works are planned on mainline services to London, and drivers have been warned to take care on the roads as wintry showers are predicted. Temperatures
PART of Colchester's ancient Roman wall has been uncovered. Parts of the South Gate were discovered while gas mains were being laid by Morrisons in Queen Street, Colchester. Philip Crummy, director and chief archaeologist of the Colchester Archaeological
A SECTION of Clacton's promenade will be shut as holidaymakers make their way to the resort for Easter. Part of the top promenade along Marine Parade East, will be closed for maintenance. Nigel Brown, Tendring Council communications manager, said the
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A town centre office has been evacuated after a major electric cable was severely damaged. The drama began at shortly before 11am at the BT tower, West Stockwell Street, Colchester. Thieves are believed to have stolen the earth cable from the British
More than 100 women stepped out to raise thousands of pounds for a cancer charity. At least 120 people donned bright pink for a 12-mile walk around Dedham in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer. The walk was started by Ipswich Town footballer Alan Lee
ENGINEERING businesses in Essex have welcomed the opening of a new training centre in Colchester. The Engineering Training Centre at the Westside Centre in Stanway, part of Colchester Institute, was launched after Stansted-based firm SR Technics noticed
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Going to court as a witness in a criminal trial can get those butterflies dancing big time. It doesn't matter how serious the charge; that you have to walk into a crown court and solemnly swear the evidence you are about to give is the truth, the whole
A shopkeeper who is battling for a pay-out after a lead theft is urging other shopkeepers to check their insurance cover. Ray Brown, owner of Wisebuy Variety Store, in Halstead, will be £1,600 out of pocket if Royal and Sun Alliance do not pay. The
Metal thieves caused £20,000 of damage when they stripped the lead from a church roof. More than 100kg of lead was stolen from All Saints' Church, Brightlingsea, in a spate of early morning raids. The first theft took place on March 10, when six square
Commuters faced long queues after a crash on the A12. A lorry overturned and shed its load on the southbound carriageway, immediately after the Copdock roundabout, at about 3.10pm yesterday. No one is believed to have been injured in the accident, but
A man who stole a stereo from a car to pay for drugs has been spared a prison sentence. Jamie Crosby, 23, smashed the window of a Fiat car in Colchester before making off with the music system. When he was arrested, police found he was carrying a small
Police were called after football fans allegedly wrecked a National Express East Anglia train. British Transport Police (BTP) were called following reports of a disturbance on board the train from Norwich to London Liverpool Street. It is believed to
Gurkhas from Colchester are set to march on Parliament today to call for equal rights. A group of 15 veterans from the town are to join the protest about their pension entitlement, organised by the campaign group Gurkha Justice. Rajendra Rai, of Barnardiston
Football fans are demanding a U-turn over plans for a park-and-ride at Colchester's new community stadium. At a meeting of the stadium stakeholders' group, Colchester United supporters said proposals to lend parking spaces at the new community stadium
Bus users are calling for action to prevent festival goers causing traffic chaos. At a meeting at Wivenhoe Town Council, Peter Kay, public transport representative, said more needed to be done to prevent obstructive parking during the town's annual May
Colchester fire station has won a national award at a star-studded London ceremony. The station scooped Station of the Year at the Fire Service National Benevolent Fund annual Spirit of Fire Awards, hosted by Amanda Holden. All of the nominees attended
A motley crew of oversized characters have been running their socks off for a special cause. Colchester United's second charity mascots' race, held at last night's home fixture against Hull City, looks set to raise thousands of pounds for Little Havens
Twelve police officers raided a scrapyard in Stanway after receiving information that stolen vehicles were being stored there. Colchester police went to the site in Butchers Wood, Maldon Road, at 7am yesterday, to execute a warrant under the Theft Act
Youths have been risking their lives by deliberately stepping in front of moving buses and lying in the road. A bus driver called police after he spotted teenagers dicing with death at the bus stop in Severalls Lane, Colchester. He said every time a
A man accused of murder has told a court yesterday that a fatal stabbing on a Clacton doorstep was nothing to do with him. Darren Benstead admitted he was at the scene of the murder last summer, but said he only discovered that victim Ian Wilson had
Carnival queen Chloe Springall, right, is preparing to meet her loyal subjects in June. The 16-year-old will be at Great Bentley Carnival, taking place on June 28 on the village green. Chloe's mum, Sally, said: "I'm proud of her. She's community minded
A shop manager has banned customers from bringing in large bags in a bid to stop thefts. Brian Tibbles, of The Range in Valley Bridge Road, Clacton, is asking visitors to leave bags behind a customer service desk. He says the store loses more than £10,000
An attacker burst into a room and assaulted a woman in a row over cash. Kevin Menzies, 27, kicked open a door and attacked his victim at her boyfriend's home in Clacton. A court heard Menzies' sister, Lynn, was going out with Ronald Moore until he "
Paramedics called for police after they became concerned for the welfare of a man in Dovercourt. Police were called to Dockfield Avenue by the ambulance service at about 1.20pm yesterday, and helped restrain the man, who was taken to Colchester General
Highways officers will visit the scene of a two-car crash in Clacton in which five people had to be cut free. A 20-year-old man was flown to Colchester General Hospital with serious leg injuries, a woman lost consciousness briefly and the roofs of both
ESSEX PREMIER CUP round six: Brentwood Town Reserves 2 Dedham Old Boys 1. KENT BLAXILL ESSEX AND SUFFOLK BORDER LEAGUE: Premier Division: Alresford Colne Rangers 1 Tiptree Heath 2, Brightlingsea Regent 3 Little Oakley 1, Coggeshall Town 1 Lawford Lads
Braintree 2 Watton 3 NE14HOCKEY East Women's League division 1N In Braintree's last home game of the season they played a very strong Watton side who showed why they are near the top of the table. Despite the difference in league positions the game
FORD II 1 HARWICH 0 East Men's League division six SE THIS was a top of the table clash, with Ford currently in second place behind Harwich. Both teams were evenly matched, with goalscoring opportunities created at both ends of the pitch, and good
An ambitious scheme is being proposed to stop congestion in a market town. Members of the Manningtree Rail Users' Association say a road tunnel should be dug underneath the railway tracks, to stop vehicles being jammed up at the crossing. Their proposed
WITHAM were in confident mood after last week's success but found a very young and fit side who showed why they are second in the Essex Women's League division one by winning 3-1. Redbridge took an early lead but Witham keeper and player-of-the-match
CLACTON allowed East London an easy three points with a 5-1 defeat in Men's East League divison three south east. The Seasiders started brightly enough, creating early pressure and had they converted any of the first-half short corners the outcome may
COLCHESTER threw away a two-goal lead once again to leave them precariously placed near the foot of the table after a 3-2 defeat against Bury St Edmunds in NE14hockey East League Premier B division. Once again, the hosts started the game at a great pace
MERSEA'S Saskia Clark moved up a place in the standings to tenth after the third day of the Princess Sofia Trophy in Majorca. The 28-year-old, who, together with skipper Christina Bassadone, is competing in the women's 470 Class regatta in Palma, had
THE disappointment of another Ryman League division one north defeat was tempered for Wivenhoe Town by news that their nearest relegation rivals had been thumped 7-0. Wivenhoe suffered a second loss in four days with a 2-1 defeat at Brentwood, following
COLCHESTER United boss Geraint Williams conceded his side always had an uphill task on their hands against Hull City, after being reduced to ten men so early in the game. Phil Ifil's 14th-minute dismissal for violent conduct meant the U's were immediately
PHIL Ifil was left shocked' by referee Pat Miller's decision to send him off in Colchester United's defeat against Hull City. The right-back was given his marching orders in the 14th minute of their Coca-Cola Championship clash for violent conduct following
A huge number of Langham villagers turned out to oppose fledgling plans to set up a park-and-ride in the village. Williamson Developments wants to put a park-and-ride for up to 700 cars, possibly rising to 1,000, as well as buildings for light industry
A FIVE-figure sum has been shared between 27 charities and groups in Tendring. The grants, totalling £86,355, include £5,000 allocations to Clacton and District Stroke Association, Teen Talk Harwich, Signpost Tendring, Open Road, For Youth and the Salvation
Colchester United were left to rue the controversial dismissal of defender Phil Ifil, following their 3-1 defeat against Hull City at Layer Road. The former Spurs youngster was given his marching orders by referee Pat Miller for violent conduct in the
