Flower-lovers in Frinton have launched their bid for this year's In Bloom competition, by planting a tree to mark the start of spring. Frinton in Bloom organisers planted a tree at Pedlars Wood nature reserve in Central Avenue, Frinton. David Foster
Mersea Museum volunteers are gearing up for what they hope will be another successful exhibition season. Last year's display and workshops on the Romans brought in almost 3,000 people during the five-month run, with 600 children coming from 13 schools
Hospital porters are protesting after bosses locked them out of their locker room. Health chiefs closed the Porter's Lodge at Colchester General Hospital despite opposition from staff. Employer Carillion, which provides portering services to the Turner
Nine out of ten trains between north Essex and London ran on time over the last year, latest performance statistics show. Figures released by train operator National Express East Anglia show a punctuality rate of 90.28 per cent, defined as a train arriving
A new restaurant, distribution centre and car parking area look set to go up in Tollgate after Colchester Council announced it would not oppose their construction. Colchester Council had failed to decide whether Corporate Investments, which owns Tollgate
A parish council is writing to its MP to outline concerns over a doctors surgery using an 0844 telephone number. Kelvedon Parish Council has raised concerns that Kelvedon Surgery, in High Street, has changed its number from 01376 to 0844. But the practice
A WOMAN has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 61-year-old man died in Frinton. Police and ambulance crews were called to a flat in Clandon House, Queens Road at about 9.20pm on Thursday. An elderly resident of the apartment block, who did
PARTS of the sea wall may be breached in an attempt to save ecologically-important marshes on the Walton backwaters. The Environment Agency wants to flood part of Devereux Farm in Walton Road, Kirby-le-Soken, in a bid to preserve the habitat. The backwaters
PEDESTRIANS have been climbing over fences designed to stop them crossing a dangerous dual carriageway - as the underpass road chiefs want them to use is flooded. Essex County Council has put up the fences as a safety measure after two students were
AN Irish grandmother is furious about Government proposals to stop her countrymen voting in the UK. The Goldsmith Report, published by former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith, sets out new rules for citizenship in Britain, including US-style allegiance
After 51 seasons on the terraces, an MP will not be renewing his Colchester United season ticket - because the club's chairman will not meet him. Bob Russell has launched an astonishing attack on Robbie Cowling, and accused him of being "more interested
A CAMPAIGN is being launched to celebrate the success of neighbourhood policing in Essex. The A Name in Every Neighbourhood campaign is launched this week throughout the county, and will involve officers across the force joining with partner groups and
A SCHOOL is to cement its status as a digital media college by opening its own television studio. On April 15, the new facilities at Colbayns High in Clacton will be opened in front of parents, governors and other dignitaries. Curriculum and community
More than 1,000 malicious calls were made to Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) last year. Figures released by the service show that in 2006/07, crews throughout the county responded to 9,924 emergency calls where there turned out to be no
The smashed glass crunched under Liz Clements' feet as she walked around, surveying the sorry sight that was the old bus depot. Yes, it was derelict; yes, it was in a right state. But for her it was a lightbulb moment. What had started as a simple trip
Extra police officers have been patrolling around schools in Colchester after a man allegedly attempted to abduct a child. Officers from the Southern Neighbourhood Policing Team provided a high-visibility presence outside all the schools in the area,
Anti-war campaigners held a remembrance ceremony to mark the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. They gathered outside Colchester's town hall last night and called on the Government to bring troops home. The names of 60 British soldiers and 60
A man ended up before a court after taking a CD round to his ex's house. Police thought Stephen West, 48, was drunk and trying to break into the address in Colchester's Purvis Way. West, of Mabbitt Way, High Woods, admitted threatening and abusive behaviour
Kebab shop staff pulled a thief's trousers down to stop him escaping after he raided the till. Scott Butcher, 21, grabbed £40 from the fast food outlet in St Botolph's, Colchester. But staff challenged him and pulled down his trousers to restrain him
A man wishes he "could turn back the clock" after he caused a crash which led to the death of a man and his fiancee's unborn child. Motorcyclist Ian Adams, 26, died in the crash on Colchester's Avenue of Remembrance last September. Girlfriend Carla
A group of men threatened a motorist after forcing him to stop his car and vandalising it. The motorist, of Frinton, was targeted by the yobs while driving along Neasden Avenue, Clacton. The men jumped in front of his car forcing him to stop before
A meeting with police officers has been called following a spate of railway station vandalism. Wrabness Parish Council called for the presence of the British Transport Police and local police officers. Councillors said it would help to have the officers
A mayoress will be on the run for charity next month. Helen Gallagher, mayoress of Harwich, will be raising money for the Essex Air Ambulance with a jail break. Along with Bev Heard she will be dressed as a convict and on the run from Colchester Castle
A Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) who was criticised by councillors for not being seen on patrol enough cannot use a bicycle because she has not passed a test. St Osyth Parish Council revealed PCSO Rebecca Duff needs to pass an advanced cycling
Children had very well-dressed heads at their Easter bonnet parade. The youngsters at Little Pals Nursery in Clacton made their own hats, adorning them with eggs, chicks, flowers and all things Eastery. Gill Smith, head of nursery at the Jaywick Lane
COLCHESTER Gladiators' pre-season friendly against Ipswich tomorrow has been cancelled. The American football match was due to be played at Wivenhoe Town FC's Broad Lane ground but a waterlogged playing surface and the promise of further inclement weather
BLUE SQUARE SOUTH: (Today) Bath City v Havant and W, (tomorrow) Bognor Regis Town v Weston-S-Mare, Braintree Town v Welling, Cambridge City v Maidenhead Utd, Dorchester v Basingstoke, Eastbourne Borough v Bromley, Fisher Athletic v Hampton & Richmond,
A DOUBLE dose of victory should assure Harwich and Parkeston of their Ridgeons League premier division status for next season, according to caretaker manager Tony Armstrong. The Shrimpers travel to Histon Reserves tomorrow and then face Wisbech Town
WITH little other than league position to play for, Stanway Rovers may face a rather uneventful climax to their season in the Ridgeons League premier division. However, a gentile ending to a highly successful campaign is far from the thoughts of anyone
FC CLACTON and Halstead Town still have everything to play for going into their final seven games of the season. And preparing for tomorrow's tasty Ridgeons League division one top eight Rush Green Bowl clash, ambitious Seasiders boss David Coyle and
TIPTREE United are getting their calculators out. The Jam-makers are within a whisker of promotion to the Ridgeons League premier division and should they win at Diss on Saturday and at home to Hadleigh on Monday, the corks will be popping from the champagne
MANAGER Russell Tanner will be looking to Jamie Ricks to shoot Maldon Town ever nearer to their Ryman League promotion play-off goal. Seven goals, including two hat-tricks in three games since his arrival from Witham Town has made Ricks one of the hottest
WITHAM TOWN caretaker duo Tony Last and Paul Daley will pit their wits against a former member of the Crazy Gang tomorrow. Town play host to Redbridge, who are managed by ex-Wimbledon striker Dean Holdsworth. Holdsworth, who also played for the likes
BRAINTREE TOWN head into their important Blue Square South clash with Welling United tomorrow with mixed news on the injury front. While the return of key player Louis Riddle has boosted everyone around Cressing Road, the Blue Square South play-off hopefuls
WEEKENDS do not come any bigger than this. Heybridge Swifts manager Brian Statham will be saying that to Scraley Road squad as they face up to an Easter Ryman league premier division top three double at home to Staines Town (tomorrow) and runaway leaders
THE Easter weekend could go a long way to deciding Wivenhoe Town's fate in Ryman League division one north. Wivenhoe will have to pick themselves up from the bitter disappointment of conceding a stoppage-time goal in Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at Brentwood
ALAN Quinn has never experienced the emotional roller-coaster of the play-offs. But he's gone agonisingly close before, missing out on the final day of the season in his days with Sheffield United. The Blades finished eighth in the 2004/05 season, seeing
SITO Castro may be back in the Ipswich Town first team, but the Spaniard says he wants to be playing at a club next season where he is important'. The defender's contract is up at the end of the season and his future at Portman Road is hanging in the
COLCHESTER United's injury problems show no sign of abating. Physio Tony Flynn has been working overtime in a bid to get some of the club's dozen injured players back in action. However, the U's suffered a further blow when captain Karl Duguid was ruled
COLCHESTER United boss Geraint Williams has warned it is vital' that he keeps the nucleus of his side together for next season. With the U's hovering over the Coca-Cola Championship trapdoor, there are fears that they may lose some of their prize assets
Residents are being urged to roll up their sleeves to help hospital patients by giving blood. Although the National Blood Service has about seven days' worth of blood in the bank, the Easter weekend will make a big hole in the supplies. Gareth Bell,
