In today's Gazette: Colchester United emerged victorious in their battle to extend their hours at their training ground in Tiptree.

The U's say the decision safeguards their academy, its 200 youth players and 40 jobs.

* A mountain of 70 black bags has been left at a bin store in Greenstead - because bin say it will breach safety regulations to collect them.

Only one collection has been made in the past eight weeks at the flats in Titania Close, Colchester, because the rubbish is in a bin store which binmen say is too dark. They say they are not allowed, under EU regulations,  to put their hands where they cannot see.

* Two robbers who told al cashier they had a gun before grabbing £970 from the till have been jailed.

Scott Butcher, 25, was jailed for four years for the robbery at the Co-op store in Harwich Road, Colchester, while accomplice Robert Duke, 29, of St Andrew's Road, Colchester, was jailed for two years and nine months.

* A man accused of killing his mother is to face trial.

Peter Dickson, 37, denied a charge of murdering Carol Cooper, 66, of St Vincent Road, Clacton, and his case will be heard at Chelmsford Crown Court in April.

For more on these and other great stories, see today's Gazette. There is always more in the paper than there is online.