STUDENTS had the chance to grill their teachers in the style of a popular television show. More than 100 sixth formers at Tiptree’s Thurstable School took part in a discussion based on BBC show Question Time. The youngsters put their questions to a
SCHOOL children joined residents to sing carols and celebrate the magic of Christmas during a popular event. The Peninsula Carol Service at St Nicholas Church, Harwich, included seven schools from the Harwich and Dovercourt area as well as
A WATER company has promised to investigate after repair works allegedly damaged a family’s washing machine. Daniel and Kelly Wright, and their three children, have been without a washing machine since early in November. A sub-contractor
Classmates of a seriously ill girl were bowled over by a free party at a Colchester bowling alley. Tenpin, on Cowdray Avenue, hosted Renee Lewis-Driver and her friends from Birch Primary School. Seven-year-old Renee suffers from hypogammaglobulinaemia
Colchester United have signed Republic of Ireland international Alan Maybury. The 30-year-old defender, who has previously played for the likes of Leeds United and Leicester City, has committed himself to the U's until the end of the season. Maybury
More than £47,000 in lottery grants have been dished out to community groups and voluntary organisations in north Essex. The Awards For All small grants scheme has given money to six lucky recipients across Colchester and Tendring. Among those to benefit
A long-established independent coach company has stepped in to save the day, following cuts in bus services. Florida Coaches, based in Sudbury Road, Halstead, will be providing vital services after First merged the 352 direct service between
A plan to give hundreds of thousands of pounds to Essex’s most needy residents has been welcomed. Tendring Council chairman Roy Smith gave the thumbs-up to County Hall’s £3 million bid to help over-80s and young families through the credit crunch. Essex
PREMIER LEAGUE: Aston Villa v Bolton, Liverpool v Hull City, Man City v Everton, Middlesbro v Arsenal, Stoke v Fulham, Sunderland v West Brom, Tottenham v Man Utd, Wigan v Blackburn. Sunday: Chelsea v West Ham, Portsmouth v Newcastle. COCA-COLA CHAMPIONSHIP
A new radio will help closed surveillance camera operators to liaise more efficiently with police in Colchester. The closed circuit television centre, off the High Street, has been given an Airwaves radio terminal, allowing them to both hear police transmissions
The Government has released £12 million to fund roads and infrastructure needed to support homes growth in Colchester, Tendring and parts of Suffolk. The cash was awarded to the Haven Gateway Partnership, an alliance of big private sector employers and
Soldiers who played the key role in one of the British Army’s biggest logistic operations since the Second World War have been decorated. The men and women of Colchester-based 13 Air Assault Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps were presented with
A campaign to release one of the country’s most infamous prisoners has received a boost, thanks to a Clacton publisher. Chris Cowlin, of Apex Publishing, visited Ronnie Biggs at HMP Norwich. The former Clacton County High School student is set to release
A former businessman has told a court he will never run another care home again after he breached health and safety rules. Ernest Otasowie, who ran Leighton House in Walton, admitted eight charges of failing to comply with health and safety and food
Local produce was the star of the show in a town centre extravaganza. Visitors to the Colchester Visitor Centre, in Queen Street, were able to sample chocolates, wine and Christmas puddings, all made in north Essex. Chocolate Chef from Aldham, Carters
Villagers are being urged to support a day of action at a playing field ahead of a £44,000 scheme. Thorpe Parish Council is spearheading a bid to revamp the Lady Nelson playing field. The parish council has scooped £19,092 from the lottery, via Tendring
Council chiefs say there has been a huge surge in the amount of plastic recycled in Colchester – and are hoping for even better results in the new year. More than 600 tonnes of plastic was collected from homes between April and September – more than
An extra £2 million looks set to be ploughed into Colchester’s beleaguered arts gallery tonight. The borough’s councillors have been asked to vote on providing the additional cash after the costs of the Visual Arts Facility (VAF) project soared to £25
Overhead cables in two villages could be buried underground as part of a plan to safeguard their rural heritage. Plans for the Kirby-le-Soken and Great Holland conservation areas propose burying cables to conserve the villages’ “special character”.
A stay in hospital is never very pleasant – and certainly not funny. It has been suggested nurses should be sent to “laughter workshops” to help them be more cheerful on the wards. But one of Colchester’s top matrons has said humour in hospitals should
A duck is feeling down in the mouth after breaking off a portion of his beak. The bird was found near a pond in Clacton by Chris Taylor, a volunteer at Wildlives Rescue Centre in Thorrington. He had the lower mandible, a part of his beak, almost entirely
Sleigh bells ring, are you smiling? A Father Christmas suspended 100ft in the air has cheered up, and slowed down, drivers, its owners say. The suspended Santa is poised ready to deliver presents from the top of a crane above Plant Sales
THE costs of funding two public inquiries for a business park planned at Horsley Cross are unattainable, it has been announced. Iris Johnson, portfolio holder for planning at Tendring Council, told Tuesday night’s district council meeting that a detailed
An Essex University consortium has been awarded a £1 million grant. The grant has been made to the Institute for Social and Economic Research, the UK Data Archive and the Department of Sociology. The three departments will establish the Survey Resources
IT is hoped new lighting will be the solution to stop persistent vandals who have been causing havoc on a recreation ground and a community hall. A village association in Bradfield have managed to secure a £5,000 grassroots grant from Essex
ARMY logistics experts bumped into the Prime Minister during a tour of Westminster with Colchester MP Bob Russell. The soldiers of 13 Air Assault Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps were shown around the Houses of Parliament and taken to pose for
A teacher who inspired the title character of a series of children’s books is being sought by its author after she lost touch with her. Carolyn Hink’s book Miss Louise Goes to Paris tells the story of a primary school teacher’s travels to the French
Campaigners fighting to get a controvercial fence taken down will not get help from a district council. The two-metre high fence was put up at Allen’s Quay, Mistley, in September. Quay owner Trent Wharfage put the fence up for health and safety reasons
A tenth of Essex firefighters could lose their jobs if proposed changes to the service go ahead, the Fire Brigade Union has claimed. Up to 100 members of the union turned up to lobby the Fire Authority at yesterday morning’s meeting at County Hall, Chelmsford
ANTI-TESCO campaigners were celebrating last night after an application to build a new store in a seaside resort was unanimously rejected by councillors. Tesco and Exmax New Homes had applied to build the Express convenience store and 13 flats
Three men tried to yank a woman’s handbag from around her neck in a daylight attack. The 35-year-old Colchester woman was walking along High Street, Colchester, when the incident happened. One of the men stopped in front of the victim
TWO youths have been told to pay £1,000 compensation to a man they assaulted in a late night attack. And the pair were also told by a judge anyone seeing the CCTV footage of the assault in Colchester town centre would be “sickened” by what they saw.
A handful of Colchester Swimming Club members competed in the Essex County Championships and Special Age Group Relays at Braintree. Sargon Youssefi, 17, swam a magnificent national time in the men’s 50 metres freestyle of 24.44 seconds. He then enjoyed
Dragon Martial Arts School held their fourth quarterly grading for 2008. It was a special one this time as instructor Mark Franklin was awarded his fifth degree black belt. Franklin has been training with Dragon for 25 years and is a pivotal member
VANDALS cut train signals, causing chaos for commuters. British Transport Police (BTP) were called to an area near the Bakers Lane part of the line through Colchester shortly after 2pm yesterday. Specialist cable theft investigators were drafted in
Colchester Golf Club ladies did not enjoy the best of weather for their monthly stableford competition. The bright early conditions soon deteriorated and wind and rain kept only the hardiest of the 47 competitors on the course. Maureen Crosbie, continuing
New boy Jermaine Easter is on a mission. He wants to rewrite Colchester United’s record books against Leeds United. Neither he nor the U’s have ever scored at Elland Road – a record the much travelled Plymouth Argyle loanee will be striving to put right
Hammersmith Apollo More dates to follow. Adults £39, Child £37 Includes seat ssp £19.50 adult/£17.50 child
