A CHARITY shop is being investigated amid claims it has failed to pass on donations to the Essex Air Ambulance. Trading Standards has launched a probe into the Walton Air Ambulance Support Shop in High Street, Walton, after Essex & Herts Air Ambulance
A BRAVE girl who tragically lost all her limbs to meninigitis is learning to walk again. Five-year-old Ellie May Challis has become the youngest person in the world to be fitted with special carbon framed limbs. The youngster touched
AN award-winning Colchester businessman has described the moment he decided to rebuild his company after a devastating fire. Flames tore Robert Luckman’s factory apart just weeks after he was named Colchester and District Businessman of the
IT’S all systems Goa for three men who are preparing for the journey of a lifetime. Joe Brindle and Dan and Ryan Wicks, all 21, are to travel more than 2,000 miles across India in a three-wheeled tuk-tuk in aid of charity. The Brightlingsea
AN official travellers’ site for Colchester is no closer to getting built, 20 months after planning permission was granted. Farmer Stewart St Clair Pearce insists he owns land needed for a footpath to serve the development for 12 families off Severalls
A NATIONAL debate on the recruitment of social workers has been called for by the leader of Essex County Council, after the authority said it was forced to advertise 43 positions abroad. The council claims it has posted adverts for jobs in Ireland, Australia
Trying to find an old friend from 60s by the name of John Bowers or his extended family. He would now be 60/61. We worked in the West End together. All I know is he lived in Rochford. My email address is: perry580@btinternet.com
Former Liverpool trainee Steven Gillespie has admitted that today’s anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy will be an emotional one. The Colchester United striker started his career at Anfield and was born and brought up in the city. Today marks the
Colchester United fans have slammed club officials after they threw them out of a game for standing up. Five U’s fans claim they were unfairly kicked out from Monday’s match against Brighton and Hove Albion for not sitting in their seats.
Essex’s players will be looking to extend their home comforts to their life on the road as they look to begin the 2009 County Championship cricket season. The Ford County Ground became a bit of a fortress during last season’s run of one-day successes
Put the footballs away, the county cricket season is here. For Essex, it is a chance to claim more silverware following their double success in 2008. But are they up to the task? Gazette cricket writer Ian Oxborrow gives his view on whether the club
Jon Walters has run the rule over Ipswich Town’s arch rivals Norwich City, ahead of this weekend’s East Anglian derby at Portman Road. The Blues midfielder or striker took on a new ‘scouting’ role which he hopes will stand his side in good stead for
PUPILS could be told they no longer have a place at a £6million sixth form centre after a funding cut. Braintree Sixth Form has had £34,981 wiped from its budget for this financial year by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). The loss could rise to
AN investigation has been launched following a beach hut blaze in Frinton. Firefighters were called to three huts on fire on the seafront off Connaugth Avenue at 2.15am today. Two crews from Frinton fire station used breathing apparatus and two hose
ABOUT 1,000 visitors flocked to enjoy the 37th annual Easter art exhibition in Manningtree. The six-day event at the town’s Methodist Church featured nearly 430 pieces of artwork, ranging from landscapes to portraits. Much of the work on show was
A BRASS band promises a “spectacular evening” to celebrate St George’s Day. For the first time, the acclaimed Suffolk Phoenix Brass Band will perform a variety of British favourites at St Andrew’s Church, in Earls Colne. The band’s musical director
HE HAS been a volunteer for 34 years but it still gives Clive Fletcher a reason to get up in the morning. In 1975, he became a member of the Colchester Hospital and Community League of Friends and since then has never looked back. Now the 70-year-old
AN INSPIRATIONAL young woman who has overcome her disability by gaining a string of qualifications, is now realising a childhood dream by learning to play the piano. Catherine Turner, 28, from Ewer Court, Colchester, began learning to play
ONLY 1 per cent of people contacted about plans to build a new nuclear power station at Bradwell attended meetings to discuss the issue. Figures released by EDF Energy, which ran community meetings throughout the Maldon district and in West Mersea, revealed
REPORTS of a balloon crash were just a lot of hot air. Essex Police told Thames Coastguard about a possible hot air balloon crash in Heybridge Basin, Maldon, at about 7.50pm on Sunday. But a search by Bradwell coastguard and a West Mersea RNLI lifeboat
A TOWN council which is mired in “political hatred” could be set to end years of tradition. Town leaders in Harwich have called for a review of the position of mayor after some councillors broke with years of practice and decided one of their own members
VILLAGERS have taken the first step towards retaining a national title they claimed last year. Calor Village of the Year judges spent two hours in Langham as they resumed their search for the jewel in the crown of the country’s villages. Langham caught
CAMPAIGNERS say they expect a last-ditch protest to save Frinton’s landmark railway gates will be peaceful. Demonstrators will be making their voices heard at the railway crossing on Saturday at 10.30am. Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon
HOSPITAL staff are suffering attacks by their patients, a report has warned. There were 154 staff incidents across North Essex in the nine months leading up to December 31, including 62 within Tendring, according to a risk management report
THE number of suspected criminals collared thanks to CCTV cameras in Colchester has soared by 60 per cent over the past 12 months. Latest figures reveal the 153 cameras covering the town have been used to spot 901 crooks between April 2008
