A mum will wax men's body hair to raise money for the charity which helped her son. Tereza Tokeley's son, Joshua, has received "fantastic" support from Diabetes UK and she wants to do her bit for the charity. Joshua, 12, was diagnosed with type one
Little Freddie Martin-Pocock is allowed the type of food most five-year-olds dream of: everything he eats is either fried or junk food. He is putting on weight quickly, and his mum spends a lot of money on him, but it is for a special reason. Freddie
A fly-tipper has been fined £1,000 after dumping rubbish in the Colchester countryside. Benjamin Perry, 23, of Holly Road, Stanway, ditched oil drums, wooden planks and an old lawn-mower in Blind Lane, Birch. He was fined £1,000 with £215 costs.
A Gazette paperboy has been praised for his actions after he came to a reader's rescue. Luke Allston, of Meadow Grass Close, Stanway, was hailed a hero by Joan Taylor, for helping her after a serious fall. The 81-year-old of Darnel Way, Stanway, was
A geography teacher kept his criminal record secret from his school bosses, a hearing was told. Ronan Friel had five convictions, but failed to reveal them to colleagues at Sir Charles Lucas Arts College in Greenstead, Colchester. He also lied about
A man who kept more than 20 cats in squalid conditions, despite a lifetime ban from having animals, could face prison after more than half of them had to be put down. RSPCA and council officers discovered 24 cats and kittens in the bathroom of Michael
A GOVERNMENT suggestion for a super-prison housing 2,000 inmates has left a local MP demanding answers. Government minister Jack Straw told the House of Commons about a "suggestion that a prison should be built" in south Suffolk, which could be near
A MAN was in jail today for trying to smuggle drugs into a prison for his son's birthday. A court heard yesterday how George Wroe tried to get three grams of cannabis into Chelmsford Prison where his son was serving a sentence. The 59-year-old, of Agate
CHILDREN have been treated to a story-telling session by a children's author. Colin West, who also illustrates his own books, was invited to Kirby Primary School. He has written more than 50 children's books, some of which he read to pupils. More
A DEVELOPER whose bonfire turned the skies black over Clacton has been fined £10,000. Furious residents bombarded a council action line with complaints as ash from the giant fire rained down on their gardens, a court heard. Developer Carl Symes, 55,
COUNCIL workers have been criticised for scoffing breakfasts paid for by taxpayers. Healthy breakfasts like cereal and fruit have been laid on at Clacton Leisure Centre to encourage council and health workers to leave their cars at the site and walk
A MAN who was given a four-year antisocial behaviour order has also been evicted from his home. Simon Lockley, who was 42 when he appeared before Colchester magistrates in May, has been evicted by Greenfields Housing Association, which owns his Earls
FOR Linda and Roger Bullen, their trip to Namibia next month will be very much a bitter-sweet experience. The couple will be travelling to the village of Otjimanangombe, in the country's remote eastern Omaheke province, to open a much-needed clinic for
MORE than 100 villagers are fighting proposals to build a 63-bedroom nursing home in their village. Developers have submitted plans to turn the former Ramsey County Primary School, in Wix Road, Ramsey, into the home which would include a restaurant,
A MAN accused of murdering a nurse told police he was "in a trance" when he discovered the woman was dead. Daniel Tambengwa had argued with his partner at their Colchester flat and told her he was leaving. In the row that followed, Tambengwa said he
COLCHESTER is once again in mourning after two paratroopers died in separate incidents in Afghanistan. A member of the Territorial Army attached to 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment was killed in an explosion while checking for mines on Tuesday afternoon
An 11-year-old boy who was killed by a falling branch died in a "dreadful accident", an inquest has found. The jury at the inquest into the death of Daniel Mullinger, who died during a school trip to Norfolk, a year ago, returned a verdict of accidental
YOBS caused hundreds of pounds damage to a town football club - all in a quest for a late-night snack. Vandals broke into the burger bar at Wivenhoe Town Football Club, in Elmstead Road, Wivenhoe. They smashed the door frame to gain entry, but only
Are you in the picture? Our snappers have been out and about at proms for Thomas, Lord Audley and Philip Morant schools in Colchester. See tomorrow's Gazette for plenty of shots of the action.
Plans for a huge new Sainsbury's supermarket look set to get the thumbs-up. A new 1,150sq ft superstore has been proposed for land north of London Road, Stanway, including a new petrol station, car wash, cafe and supermarket. The new development would
Cars are being diverted while faulty level crossing barriers are fixed. The barriers are not working at East Gate, Colchester, and are stuck in the down position. The problem was reported at 9am today and is expected to be mended by midday.
A renowned restaurant in a seaside town has changed hands. Anne's Restaurant and Cafe, in Connaught Avenue, Frinton, was established in 1922. The restaurant is not expected to change its style, but its new owner said it will see the introduction of
WALTON's Maritime Museum opens for the season on July 1. The museum in the old lifeboathouse at the end of East Terrace has been refurbished during the winter months. More in today's Gazette
JAZZ lovers are in for a real treat when top female drummer, Crissy Lee, comes to Clacton on Sunday. Crissy, who has just celebrated her 65th birthday, will be guesting at the Clacton Jazz Club run by local jazz supremo Ray Ward to mark her 50 years
A TWO-day re-enactment is being held to mark the 200th anniversary of an historic Harwich building. In celebration of the anniversary of the Redoubt Fort, 40 soldiers will be battling it out in a Napoleonic re-enactment on July 5 and 6. Built in 1808
A VETERAN is calling for residents to give generously and help support Colchester-based troops serving in Afghanistan. Russell Dicks, of the Malaya and Borneo Veterans' Association, is collecting packages of books, magazines, games, toiletries, sweets
A COUPLE'S kitchen was smoke-logged after their mischievous cat managed to switch on the grill. Hannah and Andy Weeks were upstairs in their 18-month-old home when they heard their fire alarms go off, at about 7.30pm on Monday. Mrs Weeks, of Braiding
A BRAVE toddler who is struggling against an aggressive form of cancer enjoyed a special day out with her family. Four-year-old Emily Woodend, who lives in East Bergholt, was given a royal treat at Hedingham Castle. She is living with a cancer called
COLCHESTER "won't know what has hit it" when Chinese treasures go on show. Culture chiefs reckon an army of tourists will march on the town to see ancient model warriors displayed next month. The pint-sized Guardians to the King are just a fraction
Witham Town manager Tony Last has been busy strengthening his squad for the coming season and insists more players will be coming to the Spicer McColl Stadium, Spa Road. Last has added four new players to the ranks over the past week and expected further
ABBERTON are the toast of the Two Counties Championship this week after ending league leaders Mildenhall's undefeated run. The Suffolk visitors had gone seven games unbeaten - won five with two declared void - before Saturday's Fingringhoe Road meeting
COLCHESTER and East Essex have reached the regional final of the Cockspur National Knockout Cup. However, their Shepherd Neame Essex League premier division title hopes are all but gone after a shoddy display against Wanstead. Put into bat by Wanstead
KARL Duguid said the lure of Coca-Cola Championship football was a big factor in his shock decision to move from Colchester United to Plymouth Argyle. The U's longest serving player turned his back on League One football at the new Weston Homes Community
A SHOULDER injury robbed Old Heath greyhound trainer Dave Smith of the chance of glory at the Crayford Vase. Barnacres Rob, a dog that Smith co-owns as well as trains, was running in the prestigious category-one race and, despite him giving away at least
TWO of Colchester's brightest young running stars will be flying the flag for Britain at the World Junior Championships at Bydgoszcz in Poland. Louis Persent and Olufunmi Sobodu have been selected to represent their country in the relay events at the
Graham Napier produced an amazing performance - smashing an unbeaten 152 - as Essex reached 242 for three to beat Sussex by 128 runs in the Twenty20 Cup. It was not the Chelmsford floodlights that lit up the ground but the breathtaking display by the
MOST two year-olds toddle - Connie Clark dances! In fact, Connie, of Forest Road, Greenstead, Colchester, is so good at disco dancing she's just become the youngest ever entrant in a nationally recognised dance exam - and what's more she passed, with
PLANS are fast taking shape for new medical centres in two north Essex towns. Health chiefs today said both Wivenhoe and West Mersea were on track to get badly-needed replacements for their doctors' surgeries. Proposals to build new health facilities
