HEALTH bosses say 1,000 self-testing chlamydia kits have been returned. In November last year, North East Essex Primary Care Trust introduced the scheme to give away free self-testing kits in a bid to tackle the spread of the sexually-transmitted disease
TEAMS are being sought to help put the fun back into fundraising to help a hospice. St Helena Hospice will be hosting an "It's a Knockout" event on May 25, at Colchester Rugby Club, and is looking for teams of ten to each raise at least £75 in sponsorship
A GANG of young yobs has been criticised for putting motorists' lives at risk by throwing missiles at moving cars. Six youths were spotted hurling what it is believed were balls at passing cars in Halstead Road, Kirby Cross. The youngsters, who were
A FAMILY is in shock after thieves broke into their back garden and stole a treasured koi carp worth around £350. Support worker Steven Duffy, of Acacia Avenue, Greenstead, had been nurturing the three-foot long carp for nearly four years until it was
PEOPLE are being urged to use health services correctly over the Easter weekend, after the ambulance service received more than 2,600 calls to Essex alone last year. The Easter Bank Holiday weekend is one of the busiest holiday weekends of the year,
OPPOSITION councillors have forced a delay on plans to set up a temporary park-andride scheme near Colchester's new Community Stadium. Colchester Council's cabinet has agreed to support and provide £200,000 for a scheme to use land south of the stadium
A FRINTON film-maker chained himself to a London cinema in protest after it decided not to screen his movie. Tony Longhurst, of Elton Road, was arrested following his demonstration outside the Ritzy Cinema in Brixton. He claims the cinema went back
POLICE will be conducting a series of spot checks on an estate that has been plagued by a string of car crime. Described as an "emerging trend", officers in Harwich have seen a sharp rise in the number of vehicle-related offences on the Bathside estate
SICK thugs are believed to be responsible for critically injuring a rest home cat. Residents at Ashford Rest Home, in Halstead Road, Eight Ash Green, were distraught after discovering one of their cats had been seriously injured. Billy, who is only
An axe-wielding robber stole £50 from a chemist before fleeing up the A12 to Colchester. The man entered Cole Cross Chemist in Hylands Parade, Chelmsford, at around 11.40am. He threatened staff before escaping with the money in a white BMW car. The
PEOPLE are being asked to be vigilant, with the Easter break approaching, to help crack down on illegal raves. Residents can play a vital role in preventing raves by reporting suspicious activity - such as trespassers taking an interest in what could
THIS year's Gazette Jobs, Careers and Recruitment Exhibition was bigger and better than ever. More than 700 people attended the exhibition, which this year, due to past demand, was held in two rooms in Colchester's Town Hall - the Grand Jury Room and
THIS year's Gazette Jobs, Careers and Recruitment Exhibition was bigger and better than ever. More than 700 people attended the exhibition, which this year, due to past demand, was held in two rooms in Colchester's Town Hall - the Grand Jury Room and
HOPEFUL tenants from across most of Essex and Suffolk will be able to apply for council homes in Colchester and Tendring under new rules being discussed. Meanwhile, people on the waiting list in Colchester or Tendring can bid to move to social housing
Phil Ifil is available for Colchester United's clash with Norwich City on Saturday after the club successfully won their appeal against his red card against Hull City. The young defender was sent off against the Tigers and faced a three-match ban. However
Job Title: Telephone Leaflet Sales Advisor Hours & Location: 37.5 BasildonSalary: OTE £16,000 per annumAn opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic individual
THE sun shone for young footballers from schools across Colchester when they took part in a football tournament. About 140 year seven pupils from Thurstable, Plume, Stanway, St Helena, Philip Morant, Sir Charles Lucas, Colchester Royal Grammar and St
Colchester United look set to turn to the emergency loan market again in a bid to ease their injury crisis. A knee injury suffered by captain Karl Duguid has ruled him out of the U's East Anglian derby against Norwich City on Saturday. The last player
Mention terminal illness and most people think of cancer. While the effects of the disease are horrific, there is another illness lurking in the background and silently growing. But as it is not something we can see, it rarely makes the headlines. Nor
Another person has won the lottery in Colchester - but doesn't know it yet. They scooped the Thunderball jackpot of £250,000 and have yet to claim the life-changing amount. It means there is a total of nearly £420,000 in prize money waiting to be picked
A group of fraudsters could be flooding Colchester with fake banknotes. Colchester police are warning shoppers and businesses to examine any money carefully, particularly £20 notes, after at least two incidents where someone had been given fake money
A woman thought she may have been dreaming when she was sexually assaulted. But a court heard how she realised it was real when her friend repeated the assault later on. The 45-year-old woman had taken up an offer of a bed for the night from Ian Burgess
A drunken father stole his teenage daughter's computer games console to pay for gas and electricity at his flat. Norman Sparks, 38, went to his estranged wife's home in Colchester on February 2 to see her and their six children. He appeared to be drunk
A Brightlingsea student is hoping to follow in the footsteps of the nation's top designers after she was offered a place at a prestigious fashion school. Nicola Brindle is set to study art and design at Central St Martin's, London, in September subject
A private dentist has been told he is safe to continue in his practice. Francois Rossouw, 52, appeared before the General Dental Council (GDC) yesterday and was told he would not be struck off the dental register. It was alleged Rossouw, who has a practice
A serial killer has applied for permission to appeal against his conviction for murdering five women. Steve Wright was last month unanimously convicted by a jury at Ipswich Crown Court of murdering the five prostitutes, including Colchester vice girl
A high-speed chase took place along the A12 this morning following an attempted burglary of a Colchester jewellers. At around 11.45pm last night, CCTV cameras spotted three men in balaclavas trying to break into Goldsmiths, in Culver Square, with a grinder
An unpopular idea to knock down houses to reduce pollution in a Colchester street looks set to be scrapped. Colchester Council was considering the viability of placing compulsory purchase orders on properties at the narrow East Hill end of Brook Street
Villagers have been called to join a crusade against litter. Clive Wallis, 63, has been "incensed" by rubbish on the streets of Marks Tey, and has formed a one-man cleaning team using equipment provided by Colchester Council. "I do a lot of walking
An expert has received royal recognition for his work transforming an Essex island into a haven for wildlife. Mark Dixon, of West Mersea, was made an Member of the British Empire (MBE) at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace yesterday. The father, of Coast
Tendring's first dispersal order is now in effect. The order, which initially runs for three months, will enpower police and community support officers to split up or move on groups of two or more people if they are causing antisocial behaviour. They
Clacton's Queen has made a triumphant return home. The steamroller has been in the Norfolk town of Diss for the last 14 months, undergoing major repairs costing £2,700. Now she is back in Vista Road, Clacton, much to the delight of members of the Clacton
A campaigning councillor is urging highways bosses to reduce the speed limit on a "dangerous" stretch of road. Lynda McWilliams, Tendring councillor for Great Bentley, has appealed to Essex County Council to change the regulations on the B1027 between
A man gave police a stream of racist abuse after he was arrested for damaging a taxi. A court heard how Daniel Hardiman got upset when a cab driver refused to take him to an address in Clacton, as he did not have enough money. Hardiman, 29, got out
Schools have been put on high alert after a man attempted to abduct a child on her way to school. The action comes after a girl on crutches, from the Stanway School, claimed she was walking along Winstree Road, in Stanway, when the attempted abduction
IPSWICH Witches' Craven Shield clash against local rivals Lakeside Hammers at Foxhall Stadium tomorrow will now start at 2.15pm. This will give the riders and supporters wishing to travel just a little extra time to make their way to the Arena-Essex
TWO third-placed finishes lifted Mersea sailor Saskia Clark to fifth position on day four of the Princess Sofia Trophy in Majorca. Clark, together with skipper Christina Bassadone, improved from an overnight tenth placing in the women's 470 Class in
COLCHESTER AND DISTRICT YOUTH LEAGUE UNDER-EIGHT Longman Blues League: Colchester Ath Blues 0 Long Melford Blues 1 (G Shaddock). Longman Reds League: Colchester Ath Reds 0 Long Melford Reds 3 (T Liskus, B Gartland, Z Hillman). End of Season League
Chelmsford Chieftains' Ice Hockey Premier League season ended on a low as they were beaten 10-6 by the Tigers at Telford. And 24 hours later the two sides met again at Riverside Ice and Leisure with the Tigers coming out as victors once again. The Chieftains
The Colchester Gladiators American Football Club begins their quest for glory with a pre-season match against local rivals Ipswich Cardinals. The game is taking place on Saturday at Gladiators' Broad Lane Stadium, Wivenhoe, kick-off 6pm. The Gladiators
COLCHESTER's Waterpolo team got their league campaign back on track with a 7-4 win against Chelmsford. The pair had drawn 10-10 a fortnight earlier, but Colchester took amore patient and measured approach this time and a tidy lob from Craig Snowdon put
COLCHESTER School of Gymnastics' Joshua Mitchell raked in the medals at the Eastern Region competition for levels one and two. In the level one, 11/12 age group, he won gold bars with a score of 10.90 and an outstanding bench score of 11.90 earned him
HOME advantage paid off as Five Lakes Golf Club's ladies beat Benton Hall 3-2 in the second round of the Mail on Sunday competition. RESULTS: Julie Dicks beat Wendy Kirkby one-up, Mary Guthrie lost to Wendy Jarvis two down, Jo Walton beat Sue Hanlon
DAVE Hales' seven-under nett 63 won him division two of Lexden Wood's March Medal by four shots from junior Sam O'Brien, with Simon Collins third with a nett 68. Andrew Barrett won division one with a nett 66, with Grant Chapman's nett 67 taking second
COLCHESTER Golf Club's Mail on Sunday men's team eased through to the third round of the national competition. They were drawn at home to Bury St Edmunds. It would have been a close tie, had Colchester's first three games not tied up the match early
COLCHESTER Rovers' Malcolm Hargreaves has been nationally honoured for services to cycle racing. Hargreaves, from Marks Tey, was presented with the British Cycling Volunteer Award at the BCF prizegiving dinner at Bolton's Reebok Stadium and is best known
VIV Dundon is hungry for her first taste of England action. The Clacton darts ace is representing her country at this weekend's international against the Rest of Europe, at the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green. The 50-year-old will rub shoulders
ALAN Lee has happy memories of Scunthorpe United. And the Ipswich Town striker hopes to be beaming again by the end of Saturday's Coca-Cola Championship clash at Glanford Park. The Blues are ninth with just eight games left, as they continue their quest
COLCHESTER UNITED have lodged an appeal against Phil Ifil's controversial red card against Hull City. The defender was given his marching orders for violent conduct in the 14th minute of the U's 3-1 defeat at Layer Road. Ifil is facing a three-match
COLCHESTER United legend Micky Cook believes that professional pride can help the club's players bounce back next season - if they are relegated. A home defeat to Hull City has left the U's rooted to the bottom of the Coca-Cola Championship table and
THE name on the front of a department store planned as part of a redevelopment of Colchester town centre remains uncertain. A big store is at the heart of plans to revitalise the St Botolph's area. The purchase of Williams and Griffin by Fenwick has
REAL ale fans will be drooling at the prospect of Mersea Island's third annual beer festival happening over the Easter weekend. Hosted by Mersea Island Vineyard and Brewery in Rewsalls Lane, East Mersea, the four-day event will feature some 30 guest
About £53,000 is to be spent on play equipment for a Colchester country park. The Friends of Westlands Country Park have secured the grant funding, and are in the process of choosing the equipment. The park, which is a former landfill site on James
AN inspired 12-year-old has earned his school a visit from american footballers. Harry Hornsby, of Manningtree High School, set the ball rolling when his year seven classmates were each asked to give a presentation about their hobbies. His was about
