A SPECIAL committee, dedicated to the problem of off- road parking in Tendring, has been welcomed by community leaders. The decision by Tendring District Council to set up the special committee was announced at a Lawford Parish Council meeting. Parish
CONCERNS have been raised about a stretch of road which has seen two car accidents on it in the past month. Members of Mistley's parish council voiced worries to police about the B1035 Clacton Road at its parish meeting. Council chairman Ian Rose said
MUSIC enthusiasts have failed in a bid to turn Colchester's Army church into a concert hall. The Save the Garrison Church group has been told its vision for the venue failed to meet the criteria set out by developer Taylor Wimpey. An application to
A CAMERA attached to a kite was launched to capture bird's eye shots of work on a sea wall as part of a project to build a wind farm off Clacton. A group of kite flyers from Clacton have captured pictures of the onshore works for the Gunfleet Sands Wind
NORMAL service will be resumed at two coastal post offices. The branches in Holland-on-Sea and Jaywick had both been beset by troubles in recent months. Holland-on-Sea's Stratford Road office, which had been run by Tendring councillor KT King and his
PEOPLE living in Mistley could soon get the chance to point speed guns at motorists. Police officers told a meeting of the parish council that the Speed Watch scheme could be coming their way. The police-run scheme enables members of the public to be
SUBMISSION of plans for the future of Colchester's Cowdray Centre has been put off for at least another three months. Owner F&C Investments has been working on redevelopment proposals since 60 small units at the heart of the site off Cowdray Avenue were
MOTORISTS are stranded in a seven-mile tailback on the A12 following a multi-vehicle pile-up. The crash happened at about 4.30pm, just before the Hatfield Peverel exit on the northbound carriageway. Seven vehicles, including a truck, were involved in
WORK has started on a new £384,000 village sports pavilion to replace one destroyed by arsonists five years ago. The first turf was turned at Kirby Playing Field yesterday to mark the beginning of the project. The task was undertaken by Pat Morris,
A TALENT show has raised £800 for a village primary school. The show, held at the Park Pavilion, Barrack Lane, Dovercourt, saw 24 acts from Two Village Primary School in Ramsey perform to an audience of 250 people. A total of 44 children showed off
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man in Braintree. Officers were alerted by paramedics around 11.30am today following reports that a man had died in a flat in Mullins Road. The death of the 54-year-old man is
MUSIC buffs hope homegrown talent can do for Colchester what The Beatles did for Liverpool. They want to put the town at the centre of the nation's music scene and provide a legacy for young bands. Colchester has been nominated to represent the east
A SMALL village looks set to benefit from the arrival of thousands of Scouts this summer. Kirby-le-Soken will be the setting for the week-long Essex International Jamboree at the end of July. The event, which takes place every four years, will be held
AN alcoholic caught drink-driving twice in just four days was spared prison after begging a court for one last chance. Police stopped Cy Sutton, 23, when he drove a BMW into a traffic island kerb, in Colchester's Priory Street car park, on February 17
A FUNDRAISING trio from Mersea Island will walk the walk next month for breast cancer care and research. Hillary Bower, Gill Laver and Carol Moncur, all members of the local Bosom Pals group, are once again tackling the Playtex Moonwalk in London. But
A PARK-and-ride scheme could be up and running in a village near Colchester by the end of 2010, a developer has claimed. Williamson Developments, which once ran a major fruit farm in Langham, wants to build a park and ride on land between the A12 and
A SERIAL sex pest has been exposing himself while wearing women's underwear. Police have called for any victims of indecent exposure to come forward, as they investigate a spate of similar incidents in the Mersea Road and Military Road area of Colchester
PUPILS who are a dab hand in the kitchen have opened a new drive-through McDonald's. Twelve-year-olds Paige Young and Dan Gardham were chosen to cut the ribbon at the fast food restaurant at Tollgate Retail Park, Stanway, Colchester. They were given
EIGHTY parcels for Colchester troops in Afghanistan have been delivered to their garrison. The boxes of goodies were collected by Mark Beagles, of Walton's Royal British Legion. They will be sent out to 16 Air Assault Brigade, which is spending six
ROGUE traders have targeted elderly residents in Colchester, and police have urged people to be on their guard. Three houses have been targeted in April by a man demanding money to relay drives. An elderly couple living in Heath Road, Stanway, were
POLICE are hitting out at cruel youngsters who were spotted throwing stones at horses in Ramsey. Two youngsters were seen throwing stones in the direction of the animals in Rectory Lane after being asked to leave a field by the landowner. They also
A PERVY pensioner has been shown the red card for sexually assaulting female footie fans on the terraces at Colchester United. Brian Lamb, 70, preyed on women supporters by rubbing up against them in the crowd at Layer Road, despite a life ban from another
STEVE the cornsnake really charmed his way into the hearts of Gazette readers. The 18-month old constrictor snake, which will grow to two feet long, has been voted winner of Gazette Pet Idol 2008 with 73 votes - 58 texts and 15 phone votes. Runner-up
TELEVISION bosses are defending a documentary which provoked an angry response from hundreds of residents. The BBC received more than 160 complaints after it screened film-maker Marc Issacs' documentary The Curious World of Frinton-on-Sea, which was
PUPILS at a Colchester school have been experiencing a taste of life as Second World War youngsters. Brinkley Grove Primary's 60-strong year five group donned clothes of the era, while staff joined in dressed as members of the Women's Land Army. Some
A soldier from Colchester-based 3 Para is pictured flying into battle in Kandahar, Afghanistan.. The regiment has been in the country for two to three weeks and has started anti-Taleban operations with an aerial assault against one of the most-wanted
A 10-YEAR-OLD rugby player was flown to hospital after a land ambulance could not access the pitch. The boy, who suffered from neck and back pains after a rugby tackle, was flown from the King George V playing field next to the rugby club, Beckers Green
THE trial of two teenagers accused of killing a young Colchester mother has started at Chelmsford Crown Court. The two aged 14 and 17 deny murdering 24-year-old Helen Maughan in May last year. Her body was discovered floating in the River Colne, behind
RESIDENTS in Tendring feel safer than they did last year, despite reporting they are more fearful of drug dealing and nuisance youths. The Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) survey gives a mixed picture of safety and offending in the district
Police were called to a row in a pub and restaurant that led to a granny and 15 members of her family being barred. Massie McKenzie, an 80-year-old grandmother-of-seven, was out for dinner at the Wagon pub in Mistley for her son's 60th birthday when
AN elderly woman was airlifted to hospital because she was suffering from breathing problems. The Essex Air Ambulance landed near Manningtree High Street yesterday to rescue the patient, who had been taken ill in nearby South Street. Police closed the
CLACTON was bustling with visitors thanks to the tempting produce of its French market. In an event organised by Tendring Council, the town square was crammed with all manner of stalls on Saturday, from pate to cheese, and crepes to baguettes. There
A SERIES of special tours are being set up to accommodate the hundreds of extra visitors expected in Harwich this summer as part of the cruise ship season. The new 2008 season, which is thought will be the busiest ever, kicked off last week with the
ESSEX teachers are being urged by county council chiefs not to go on strike, with just days to go. Simon Walsh, Essex County Council cabinet member for education, today called on teachers not to take industrial action this week in a row over pay and
BRAINTREE RFC finished the season with a flourish as their immense pack helped avenge Harlow's victory at Robbs Wood earlier in the season. The 32-10 away win sees Braintree cement their place in London League division three north east for next season
COLCHESTER played the first half with a verve and determination that swept them into a deserved 13-6 lead over visitors Rochford - but a dramatic second half reversal saw the visitors add 40 unanswered points in this final home London League division
NEW team Gigawave MotorSport made a fantastic start to their first FIA GT Championship year with a podium finish - and six points - at Silverstone. Allan Simonsen and Philipp Peter both drove a faultless race to bring the team's Aston Martin DBR9 home
BRAINTREE Town know they have to beat Dorchester Town tonight if they are to keep their slim hopes of promotion alive. But they will also be reliant on Welling doing them a favour when they host play-off rivals Bishop's Stortford. The Iron lie 11th
THE Ipswich Witches were defeated 49-41 by the Peterborough Panthers at the East of England Showground, to remain rooted at the bottom of the Elite League table. They were once again without both Jarek Hampel and Piotr Swiderski, who were riding in a
RACING finally got under way without a hitch at Great Leighs on Sunday but the first meeting under floodlights, scheduled for Thursday, has been put on hold. The British Horseracing Authority have agreed to a request from officials at the former Essex
HANNAH Stodel underlined her potential for winning a medal at the Beijing Paralympic Games in September with a strong showing on the second day of the Semaine Olympique Française regatta in Hyères, France. In perfect racing conditions, the Mersea sailor
TIPTREE Road Runner Martin Avent scorched to a new personal best at the Nicola's Five event on Canvey Island. Despite missing much of the winter season through injury, he took almost two minutes off his previous best with a run of 33 minutes and 41 seconds
BRAINTREE and District Athletic Club made a good start in the East Anglian League after an impressive display at Ipswich. They launched a new incentive award scheme for the Athlete of the Meeting'. This proved a big success in the under-11 and under
COLCHESTER HARRIERS fielded a strong team at the first outdoor club meeting of the season, the Alpha Beta Trophy meeting at Lee Valley. Against top opposition, the club fought hard, with some superb performances, resulting in a second place overall for
COLCHESTER and Tendring Athletic Club's Lloyd Heard started his new track season on a high at the Ipswich Open. He showed why he was ranked fifth in the country last year in the under-17 men's 800 metres. Running in the junior men's section of the 800m
MILL Road welcomed the two best non-academy under-19 sides in the London region for the final of the Eastern Counties Cup. Colchester had beaten Shelford twice earlier in the season, but this was an improved and far more committed Shelford side. Colchester
DAVID Wright insists there is every reason' to back Ipswich Town for a top-six finish in the Coca-Cola Championship. The Blues are seventh in the table - three points behind sixth-placed Crystal Palace - after Saturday's dramatic 1-1 draw at Wolverhampton
COLCHESTER United youth team manager Mel Jeffries is determined to make it third time lucky in the Puma Youth Alliance Cup final. The U's under-18 side breezed past Brighton and Hove Albion 3-0 in their area final at Layer Road last night. That has
... meet Steve, the winner of our Pet Idol 2008 ... find out which new language Essex children are learning ... remember Leanne Dobinson of Maria? Find out what she is doing now ... and feast your eyes on the cars at one of the area's biggest motor shows
