BRAINTREE will be really rocking this Saturday, as a popular band plays at more than 20 pubs in one night. Five-piece Missing Andy are taking on the ambitious task of 24 performances at their Pub Jam event, which they’ve organised in aid of Essex Air
WHOLE Lotta Led are back. The UK’s only professional Led Zeppelin tribute act will be rocking Colchester again this month, and as fans who have seen them before will testify, they are as close as you can get to the real thing. Despite disbanding in
USUALLY more at home on the West End stage, Ruthie Henshall is taking a bit of time out from treading the boards to teach some possible West End stars of the future. The queen of the West End wants to spend the summer with her two little girls
A MAN has returned safely to his family after going missing for a week. Dean Carter disappeared from his home in Coppice End, Colchester, last Tuesday and was reported missing by his family. The 34-year-old suffers from depression and
A DISGRUNTLED homeowner has done some DIY with a difference. Paul Willey has unfurled a big banner highlighting a three-year dispute over what he claims is unfinished work on his new home. The development company says it is working with Mr Willey to
A HOUSEWIFE has avoided jail after she bit off part of her husband’s thumb in a row fuelled by drink and drugs. Dawn Allum, 49, of Penfold Road, Clacton, was given a suspended sentence after admittting causing grievous bodily harm to husband Malcolm,
HEALTH bosses are celebrating after getting the go ahead for a new dialysis unit in Clacton. The centre will be able to treat almost 70 kidney disease patients so people won’t have to make the 30-mile round trip to Colchester three times a week for dialysis
AN animal rescue centre has received an influx of chickens dumped by owners who turned to the “Good Life” to beat the recession. Mistley Place Park, in New Road, Mistley, has had several clutches of the birds dropped off by owners who cannot look after
CRITICS have hit out at plans to spend £60,000 on an “artist-led centre of creativity” in a community which lacks basic facilties. Essex County Council is pumping the arts cash into Brooklands in Jaywick, while the area still lacks decent roads
A MAN has been flown to hospital by air ambulance with serious head injuries after a road crash. The patient has been taken to Romford’s Queen’s Hospital after the accident on The Street, Gosfield, yesterday afternoon. A spokesman for the police force
ONE of the largest fundraising events in the UK, which gives children a chance to raise big money for charity, was a success in Colchester. About 35 youngsters and 20 parents took part in the Barnardo’s Big Toddle at Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery
A SINGLE mum is warning householders in and around Colchester to lock up their sheds, after burglars stole her lawnmower. Julie O’Keigh, of Trafalgar Road, Lexden, says someone broke into her shed some time over the past couple of weeks. She said: “
Colchester United new boy David Fox will enhance the U’s chances of winning promotion. That’s the view of former Manchester United youth coach David Williams, who coached Fox as a youngster at Old Trafford. Fox - along with the likes of current Premier
A POPULAR jockey who narrowly escaped death in a freak accident in which her horse collapsed and died has spoken for the first time about her dramatic fall and her road to recovery. Rosie Chinery, 18, became the focus of the British equestrian
SEVENTEEN projects which improve the quality of life in Colchester are to share a £700,000 windfall. The money comes as part of the Colchester2020 project and covers everything from increasing police presence on the street to building up small businesses
A WOMAN is in a serious condition in hospital after falling from a horse. Passers-by tried to resuscitate the 40-year-old from Clacton following the incident, in Rectory Lane, Ramsey. The woman, who has been named locally as Wendy Watson, was airlifted
Colchester United are still keen on signing Alan Maybury on a permanent basis. The experienced full-back is yet to put pen to paper on a full-time deal with the U’s. Maybury - along with fellow defender Pat Baldwin - are both out of contract and are
TWO Colchester consultants have voiced their dismay at plans to move an important cancer centre further away from the town. Dr Bruce Sizer and Don Menzies oppose moves to relocate Ipswich Hospital’s pancreatic surgery unit to Addenbrooke’s
A SCHOOLBOY was left with a fractured jaw after he was attacked by a group of up to six youths. The 15-year-old was walking home from school at about 3.50pm on Monday when he was attacked in an alleyway between Gloucester Avenue and Boadicea
SCOOTERS from the Fifties to the present day were on show at a rally in Lawford. A total of 150 scooter entusiasts met at the Foxash Sports and Social Club in Harwich Road, Lawford. Gary Young, who organised the event with colleague Kev Rippe, said
A FOOTBALL tournament has kicked off a week-long campaign to highlight the work being done to tackle drug abuse in Essex. Ten teams, representing businesses as well as agencies working to help drug users and combat drug-related crime took part in the
ANTI-KNIFE campaigners have spoken of their disappointment after three north Essex shops sold knives to a teenager. The Range in Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, QD in Jackson Road, Clacton, and Tesco in Market place, Braintree, failed the Trading
A SCHOOL has submitted plans to build a bike track after starting work without planning permission. New Rickstones Academy, in Conrad Road, Witham, wants a new dirt track and hardstanding area for motorbike and bicycle training. Work has been suspended
I would like to publicly thank Chris Nicoll of F&C Reit, owners of the Cowdray Centre site, Colchester Tall, solid boarding installed in the lane between Asda and The Range – to protect the site from vandals – was causing people to avoid this
There has been much talk recently about the worldwide dramatic decline of the honey bee, and concern over the causes of their susceptibility to the varroa mite. However, watching a programme a few weeks ago on television about a beekeeping factory
Yesterday's front page report of the Essex County Council election results for Colchester was not correct. Liberal Democrats did not “hold their four seats”. One of them was a gain – Maypole (Berechurch and Shrub End borough wards) from Labour
PARATROOPERS toured battlefields in Normandy that helped to establish the fierce reputation of British airborne troops. Soldiers serving with Colchester-based 3 Para visited sites where their predecessors battled adversity and overwhelming
A CHOIR has raised £330 for the RNLI. Dovercourt Choral Society raised the cash at a packed concert at All Saints Church in Main Road, Dovercourt. Patrick McCarthy, the choir’s conductor, presented a cheque to Barbara Wells, chairman of the fundraising
FORMER EastEnders actress Michelle Collins will be taking part in a Barnardo’s Big Toddle in Colchester. She will join mums, dads and children aged under five for the fundraising event at Colchester Zoo on Friday. Miss Collins, who is appearing at the
A COUPLE who met at a dance are celebrating 60 years of marriage. Walter and Pamela Southgate, of Slough Street, East Bergholt, marked their diamond anniversary on Sunday by renewing their vows at St Michael’s Church, Brantham. Mr Southgate enjoyed
A NINE-year-old boy is in a serious condition in hospital after he was involved in an accident with a car outside a primary school. The boy suffered head and pelvic injuries and was left unconscious by the collision with a black Peugeot 206
PAUL Boorman doesn’t like the term molecular cooking. The head chef at Clarice House says it makes it sound like he is using chemicals. Instead, Paul says, he and colleagues John Jackaman and Hayden Lyell, from Bury St Edmunds catering
SCOUTS have invited an all-action hero to open their new headquarters. Coggeshall Scouts hope to have the UK’s new Chief Scout, Bear Grylls, as their guest to open the bew £450,000 Scout and Guide headquarters at Honywood Community Science
SAVE Our Tower was the theme of a children’s art contest organised by Frinton Rotary Club. The competition was organised as part of Rotary’s Midsummer Madness event, on Sunday, June 21, which will raise funds for the Crag Walk coast protection scheme
A WILLOW tree has been branded a danger to people using a footpath. Colchester councillor Dave Harris, of Prince Philip Road, said a branch fell off the large tree and landed on the path, between Mersea Road and Brisbane Way. He claims the tree has
