In this week's Gazette: Ten top stories from the past week

• POLICE warned motorists not to pull over for unmarked cars after two vehicles were stolen by crooks posing as officers.

One of the suspects who stole a Mercedes van on the M11 was reportedly armed with a gun.

DCI Stuart Smith from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: "Anyone who is signalled at to stop by someone in a car which may appear to be an unmarked police is asked not to stop but to call 999 immediately to verify whether the vehicle and its occupants are genuine."

• A HUGE fire tore through a pile of scrap at a breakers yard in Colchester.

Picture by Amy Tuscher

The fire broke out at Autobreak in Haven Road, Colchester, on Thursday and the plume of smoke was so large, it was spotted by the police helicopter in Southend.

Police closed Haven Road for most of the day and residents were warned to keep their windows closed to protect them against the fumes. 

• A TALENTED nurse who was filmed singing her version of an Adele classic was offered a last-minute slot at a Colchester music festival.

Emma Young, who entertains her patients at St Helena Hospice by singing and playing piano, was contacted by Colchester Party in the Park organisers after a video of her went viral online. 

• GEORDIE Shore's Vicky Pattison apologised to waiting fans after turning up late to a book-signing in Colchester. 

The reality TV star was more than an hour late to sign books at WH Smith after getting stuck in traffic on her way to Colchester from an appearance on Loose Women on Wednesday.

• A MAN chopped off his finger in a Colchester supermarket.

The man walked into Tesco in Greenstead Road and cut off his finger using a knife and a chopping board in-store.

Quick-thinking staff rushed to help the man.

• A DARING council duo stopped a town centre bin from igniting after an “arsonist” set light to a rucksack.

Tim Young (Lab), deputy leader of Colchester Council spotted a bin with smoke billowing from it at 7am on Monday morning and fetched a fellow council worker from the Town Hall. 

The anonymous worker reached into the bin to pull out a rucksack containing a smouldering toilet roll and a pair socks. 

Of the council worker's actions, Mr Young said: "I thought it was very brave."

• A NEWSAGENT was robbed by a man at knife-point and had thousands of pounds stolen.

The incident happened at Martin McColl's in Hunwicke Road, Greenstead, on Tuesday.

More to follow in tomorrow's Gazette.

• FIVE kittens were taken in by a hairdressing salon after being dumped in an alleyway.

Staff at Benjamin Charles, on North Hill, Colchester, rescued the cats and called the Cats Protection League to take the kittens in.

• A NEW budget gym is set to open in Stanway.

Fit4Less will open at Stanway Retail Park on September 8.

• TRIBUTES were paid to a 20-year-old kayaker who died after capsizing off the coast of Jaywick.

Chris Sturman, from Jaywick, went out into the sea last Sunday but never returned.

The alarm was raised when he started to struggle against the tide and capsized, plunging below the surface as he tried to swim to shore.

His kayak was found as it washed up near Lion Point, but there was no sign of strong swimmer Chris until his body was found near the beach at about 10pm.