A DEVELOPER has been criticised over its security, after a series of derelict buildings went up in flames. Seven fire engines tackled the blaze, on Sunday, at the former Hyderabad Barracks, in Mersea Road, Colchester. The barracks were built at the
COLCHESTER MP Bob Russell is to raise the case of a failed care home in the House of Commons. Greenways Care Home, in Colchester, was closed after allegations vulnerable residents were being abused by staff. However, it has now emerged the police were
A HUSBAND and wife team have ditched their jobs to revive an empty shop in their neighbourhood. Debbie and Gary Hurley gave up their careers in retail and decorating to launch card, gifts and balloon business Heart 2 Heart, in Shrub End, Colchester.
THE co-owner of a Colchester restaurant is celebrating 25 years with his business. Paul Self, manager of Sloppy Joe’s American Diner, worked his way up from washing dishes with the High Street restaurant to buying shares in the company. The 37-year-old
AN iron man England fan has raised cash for a Colchester-based charity by cycling and swimming 11,800 miles to get to the World Cup. Rob Forbes set off on his epic eight-month trip last October with the aim of raising £19,000 for Re-Cycle, which ships
A MAJOR department store is beginning a closing down sale. The Vergo store, in Station Road, Clacton, is one of 18 branches across the East of England which are earmarked for closure. The department store, in Long Wyre Street, Colchester, is one of
A MULTIMILLION-pound centre to help new Colchester companies find their feet should clear another hurdle on Wednesday. Colchester Council hopes to raise more than £400,000 towards the cost of the £2.4million business incubation centre by selling land
FOOD lovers feasted on an island’s delights at a two-day festival. Hundreds of people visited the Mersea Island Food, Drink and Leisure Festival, which was held at Mersea Vineyard, East Mersea. The festival, now in its second year, aimed to give visitors
A HIGH-ACHIEVING Colchester headteacher is leaving after leading her school to become one of the best in the country. Angela Konarzewski has been headhunted by governors who want her to oversee the merging of a junior school with an infant
Norwich City have been ordered to pay Colchester United £425,000 compensation following the departure of former manager Paul Lambert and assistants Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa last August. Norwich have also been ordered by the Football Disclipinary
RELATIVES of patients at a Colchester hospital helped move loved ones’ beds so they didn’t have to be next to patients of the opposite sex. The incident was described by Peter Dixon, chairman of Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, at
MERSEA’S fishermen say their boats may have to be taken out of service. They claim the industry is facing a bleak future because of “serious mismanagement by an urban government that didn’t care about rural industries”. West Mersea’s fishing boats are
A CHARITY made a Colchester teenager’s dream come true when she got to meet her favourite boy band. Aimie Pryke, who has cystic fibrosis, met pop sensation JLS at an hour-long session with the band in London. “It was amazing,” the 15-year-old said.
COOKING and shooting skills were under scrutiny when teams of trainee caterers competed against miltary counterparts. The second Exercise Eagle’s Aga 10 Field catering and military skills competition took place at the Friday Woods Training
THE brutal death of a former Colchester schoolgirl could have been prevented, a damning report is expected to reveal. Rachel Nickell was stabbed 49 times while walking her dog on Wimbledon Common in July 1992. A passing walker found her two-year-old
FACILITIES which teachers say will make a big difference to students at a special school are now officially open. Lexden Springs Special School, in Halstead Road, Colchester, now has a woodland walk, an outdoor musical arena, a garden room and a house
AN OUTDOOR swimming pool opened for the summer with a splash. Youngsters and local dignitaries dived in to help launch the swimming season at Bright-lingsea’s open-air pool on Sunday. The free open day attracted hundreds of swimmers to the pool, in Promenade
Colchester United’s new boss John Ward has already made contact with potential transfer targets. And Carlisle United defender Richard Keogh is believed to be at the top of his wish-list. Ward is a big admirer of Keogh, having signed him while manager
15hh approx, still growing 3yo filly. Very friendly, owned for last 2 years. sad sale due to daughters new work commitments. Well handled, feet trimmed , wormed and vaccinated £1300.00 ONO Tel:07980 668380/ 01277 363869 Essex
Elf is a very dark bay part bred Hanoverian x TB gelding born 2008. Wormed, feet trimmed and halter broken, only just begun to mature. Should make 16hh approx. Lovely movement Should develop into a nice competition / event horse
Beautiful coloured 2yo filly, extremely well put together, straight movement. Orlando bloodlines, should make approx 15.3hh. Could show or go on to any discipline. Feet trimmed, wormed and handled. £2000.00 ONO Tel
FROM films to folk music and food, a free festival in Wivenhoe added up to another word beginning with “f”... fun! Despite grey and windy weather, thousands turned out to enjoy the Wivenhoe May Fair. As ever, the music was the main draw
CONNOR Wickham admitted it was a “bit surreal” to play such a heroic role in England’s victory at the European Under-17s Championship. The Ipswich striker scored twice in the semi-final and then grabbed the winner in the final, as the Three Lions beat
A four-wicket haul from David Masters and Ravi Bopara’s first half-century of the season put Essex in a strong position to force their first victory in the LV= County Championship since the opening game of the season. Masters picked up four for 48 to
SQUEAKY the grey squirrel has been saved. The injured animal faced a death sentence when Colchester couple Patricia Faulkner and Dave Armitage, who have cared for him for seven years, decided to move to a smaller house. He couldn’t be set free as he
POLICE have closed down a cannabis factory after receiving a tip-off from the public. Officers found nearly 300 cannabis plants when they swooped on a house, in London Road, Clacton. Hydroponics equipment, used to grow the plants, was also seized.
PLANS have been submitted for the refurbishment of the entrance to Clacton Pavilion. Clacton Pavilion plc wants to upgrade the existing entrance building on the upper promenade, off Marine Parade East. The plans also include a new foyer retail unit,
A DAREDEVIL great-grandmother is preparing to plunge 12,000ft in a charity parachute jump. Using the theme of the number nine, Joan Harding will mark her 90th year with the death-defying leap in September, the ninth month of the year. She is bidding
RESIDENTS can have their say for the first time on proposals to build hundreds of homes in villages dotted around Colchester. Developers have put forward sites for housing, ranging from one or two homes in an area of Fingringhoe, to about 140
