Tomorrow sees the last Colchester United league match played at their Layer Road ground. The Gazette spoke to diehard U's fans, plus shops and residents who neighbour Layer Road to find out what the end of the ground means to them. Little did Geoffrey
As the end of an era approaches, Colchester United's neighbours on Layer Road will be waving a sad goodbye to the crowds and bustle of match days. Reporter Gareth Palmer went to speak to residents and businesses on Colchester's answer to Matt Busby Way
A man was stabbed in the head after an argument between customers in a Colchester shop. The incident happened in the East Hill Superstore. The victim, believed to be in his 20s, was suffering from a stab wound to the head. He was taken by ambulance
Devoted parents of a boy left severely brain-damaged at birth today paid tribute to their "little soldier" who died aged eight. Harry Sherman died in his dad's arms, after a life-long struggle with several disabilities. He had been poorly for a week
Police investigating the death of a man have released the name of the victim. Alan Reilly, 25, was stabbed in Coldnailhurst Avenue, Bocking, on Tuesday at about 10pm. Mr Reilly lived in Trotters Field, Braintree. Yesterday afternoon, police revealed
Hundreds of Scouts are to parade on Sunday in honour of England's patron saint. Colchester Scouting Association will celebrate St George's Day. The parade takes place through the town centre from 2.15pm, led by the Scout band. Mayor Ray Gamble will
Police have called off a search for a missing pensioner. Noel Webber, 76, from Aldham, who has high blood pressure, diabetes and suffers from slight dementia, was reported missing yesterday evening. Officers from Colchester police, with help from the
A forensic expert has dismissed stories told by two teenagers of how a young woman met her death in a river. A murder trial jury has been told the youths blamed each other for the alleged murder of Helen Maughan, telling police she had been dragged to
A spring fair is set to raise funds to rebuild a primary school in Sri Lanka and allow pupils at a Colchester school have swimming lessons all year round. An inflatable bungee jump, stalls, barbecue, and raffle with prizes donated by local businesses
Fifteen people have appeared in court charged with drug-dealing. Eleven men and four women, aged 17 to 44, appeared before Chelmsford Magistrates' Court yesterday after police swooped on 18 Colchester homes. Between them, they face 85 charges of supplying
About 20 post offices Essex could be reopened in the next few months as part of a groundbreaking county council lifeline. Speaking in the House of Lords, Essex County Council leader Lord Hanningfield said the council was also working with the Post Office
A broken manhole cover led to a council rubbish lorry becoming stuck in a busy town street. Residents of Layer Road, Colchester, reported hearing a loud bang about 11.20am yesterday. Dave McManus, street care and recycling manager at Colchester Council
Hard-hitting BBC documentary Panorama is believed to have been filming at a north Essex school. A camera crew visited Mersea Island School for a programme to be screened at a later date. The producers and the school declined to give details, but it
A 60-year-oldwas found hanged in his garage the day after his partner moved out, an inquest heard. David Weaving, of Kelvedon, had sent an e-mail to his partner Jean Carr saying " I love you Jean", before he took his own life. At an inquest in Chelmsford
Police have named the young woman who died in a road accident. RSPCA manager Laura Barker was "a ray of sunshine" in the lives of parents Jackie and Nigel, of Wethersfield. The lively 27-year-old lived at the village's Danaher RSPCA centre, where she
Trains were prevented from leaving Colchester North Station for about half an hour following a problem on the line into London Liverpool Street. A spokesman for National Express East Anglia said a fatality at Romford about 11.20am yesterday meant trains
Motorists using Turner Road in Colchester face delays while major work is carried out over the next four months. The road will be closed from Monday, while work takes place to create a roundabout and access road into the Turner Village development.
COLCHESTER and East Essex's new overseas star is set to make his PDQ Cars North Essex League debut. Malintha Gajanayake is to make his bow at Castle Park on Sunday when Colchester face Mistley. The international schedule has been causing Colchester
Live music and bingo are among the attractions at a community centre open day tomorrow. The Colchester Band, New Horizon Majorettes and Colchester Scout Band, as well as free games of bingo with prizes are just some of the fun at St Anne's Community
A post office in Clacton could reopen in weeks - thanks to a groundbreaking council scheme. The West Clacton branch was closed following an announcement by the Post Office in December that it would shut nine branches in Colchester and Tendring. However
ESSEX will hope history is on their side when the Eagles start their home one-day season with the visit of Sussex Sharks to the Ford County Ground on Sunday. Having secured a superb victory over Kent in their Friends Provident Trophy opener last weekend
Two men died after drinking heavily and jumping off a pier in a "tombstoning" stunt, an inquest heard. Seconds before John Castleman, 48, of Beach Road, Clacton, and Kelvin Rothwell, 43, of Humber Avenue, Jaywick, jumped off Clacton Pier, an assistant
I am searching for my Cousin John Lunn he was living in Rochford area. I believe the former owner of the Horse and Groom, Richard Lunn is his younger son. If any one knows this family or how i can get in touch with then i would love to here from you.
Police were rushed off their feet when a spate of dramatic incidents disturbed the peace in Harwich within a few hours. A 59-year-old man was arrested and cautioned after swearing and hurling racial abuse at another man in Market Street. Just a few
A 300ft plume of smoke and a loud noise is expected to be seen and heard from Harwich today. Royal Navy experts were expected to locate and detonate a 500-kilogram bomb off the coast. The Second World War German bomb - possibly the largest to be washed
HANNAH Stodel continued to find top form at the Semaine Olympique Francaise regatta in Hyéres in France as she sealed a gold medal in the Sonar Class with a day's racing still to go. The Mersea sailor, together with skipper John Robertson and Stephen
Work to improve a seafront car park is on schedule, according to council bosses. The first part of the scheme at the Hastings Avenue car park in Clacton - a £30,000 project to upgrade the entrance, kerbed boundaries and landscaping - was completed before
HALSTEAD Town will have to quickly shake off their cup final disappointment in time for their crunch game at Great Yarmouth Town. The penalty shoot-out defeat against Ely City in the First Division Knockout Cup Final in midweek left the club's players
HARWICH and Parkeston are at home to Wisbech Town tomorrow in the premier division. The Shrimpers lost 2-1 in last night's match at Needham Market.
HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS finally have the chance to play a match without the threat of relegation hanging over them. Swifts' season almost went to the wire, but two wins and a draw in their last three matches has seen them climb the Ryman League premier division
WITHAM Town have the chance to have a massive say in whether Wivenhoe Town stay in Ryman League division one north or not. Town travel to Ilford, who are second bottom and in vital need of a victory, with a draw unlikely to be enough to keep them afloat
RUSSELL Tanner has said he is satisfied with Maldon Town's progress this season, despite missing out on a play-off place in Ryman League Division one north. Maldon are at Waltham Abbey tomorrow in their final league game of the season. And Tanner said
THEIR future may be out of their hands but Wivenhoe Town's players will be fighting for their Ryman League division one north survival tomorrow. The Dragons face Waltham Forest at Witham Town's Spa Road ground (kick-off 3pm) knowing that even a win may
BRAINTREE TOWN could face a nervous wait after their match with Eastbourne Borough tomorrow to see if they have made the play-offs. The Iron go into their final scheduled Blue Square South game of the season at Cressing Road knowing that a victory is
AS decisions go, it was a straightforward one. Jon Walters arrived at Ipswich Town's end-of-season dinner as red-hot favourite for their coveted Player-of-the-Year Award. And, quite rightly, he went home with not one but two accolades - being the choice
JIM Magilton has urged his Ipswich Town players to concentrate on the job in hand - rather than worry about others - in tomorrow's must-win clash at Preston. The Blues start the match two places and three points outside the play-offs, as the season reaches
... see our three-page special on Colchester getting ready for that last Layer Road roar ... find out the amazing number of women who have signed up for the Colchester Race for Life ...read what people think in the aftermath of the teachers' strike ..
STOKE City boss Tony Pulis fears the exceptional circumstances of his side's trip to Colchester United tomorrow will make it an even tougher game for his side. While much of the talk among U's fans has centred around the fact that it is the final league
GERAINT Williams will instruct his Colchester United players to focus solely on beating Stoke City tomorrow. With the U's set to play their final ever league game at Layer Road, the club will acknowledge the historic day with a number of events before
JOHNNIE Jackson has scooped the Colchester United and Gazette Player-of-the-Year award. And the consistent midfielder has handed U's fans a huge boost by pledging his immediate future to the club. The 25-year-old was voted Colchester's best player this
