A cashier was assaulted in a raid on a Witham petrol station. The robbery at the BP service station in Braintree Road happened just before 6pm yesterday (Monday) evening when a man with distinctive dreadlocks walked into the shop on the forecourt. A police
Southend United fans plan to raise funds for the family of referee Mike North, who died during yesterday's (Monday's) Roots Hall match against Mansfield Town. The game was abandoned at half-time, with the score deadlocked at 0-0, after the 41-year-old
Southend United's rescheduled Division Three game with Mansfield Town will not go ahead tomorrow night, as originally hoped. The match was abandoned after referee Mike North collapsed just before half-time during yesterday's (Monday's) game and later
The new inspector at Maldon police station has become the victim of a cruel hoax Just two weeks after he took over the reins at the town's station, Insp Kevin Jacobs has been branded "gay" in malicious posters put up around the town centre. The photocopied
There was an air of inevitability about Alun Armstrong's two-goal salvo against Middlesbrough. The striker may have publicly denied he had a point to prove to his former employers. But those who witnessed his unmistakable expression of triumph after 90
Charlie's Garden Army looks set to enhance part of the St Anne's area of Colchester. In a project reminiscent of the BBC television programme, children from St Anne's Community School are spending the Easter holiday improving an area on their estate.
Wine giant Lay and Wheeler hopes to put Colchester and West Mersea on the international map by creating a premier oyster-eating suite. West Mersea's 140ft by 40ft oyster sheds in Coast Road were bought by the firm after being put on the market late last
A charity television channel is appealing for firms to switch on with sponsorship and help keep it in business. Colchester Hospital TV - which has been operating for eight years - produces video tapes which go out to hospitals and care homes throughout
Farmers across Essex are anxiously waiting the results of tests into a suspected outbreak of swine fever at a farm in Ardleigh. Agriculture and Food Ministry (Maff) vets have taken samples from Wick Farm, in Wick Lane, after James Blyth found nine dead
Family and friends of Philip Robbins, killed in a car crash, said goodbye to him in a way he would have loved. The funeral of the 18-year-old, who had a passion for singing and performing, was full of songs and laughter as well as tears. And as the curtains
Colchester's crestfallen man-of-the-match Scott Fitzgerald has offered no excuses for the U's below-par display in losing to Bristol Rovers on Saturday. The former Millwall captain summed up the performance: "We got what we deserved. It was very disappointing
Tendring twinners are putting the final touches to a visit to the German counterparts next month - but are lacking one vital ingredient. They are desperately searching for a youth football team keen for a bit of European competition. The side, which needs
Tonight's (Tuesday) home game against Peterborough cannot come quickly enough for Colchester United boss Steve Whitton. The angry U's chief is demanding a reaction from his players after watching them crash to a disappointing two-goal defeat at relegation-haunted
The domestic game was left stunned after the referee overseeing Southend's clash with Mansfield Town at Roots Hall collapsed and later died. Referee Mike North was rushed to Southend hospital and the game was abandoned at 0-0 just before half-time. Despite
The emergency services were today (Tuesday) getting back to normal in the wake of the Easter weekend. With two bank holidays at Easter, Essex Police, Essex Fire and Rescue and the Ambulance Service were geared up to deal with anything that came their
Some people think television is bad for you - but in one Brightlingsea woman's case, it just might have saved her life. Grandmother Lilian MacGregor is joining the campaign to raise awareness about bowel cancer following her diagnosis and subsequent recovery
Road rage incidents and deaths caused by drowsy drivers could be cut by an innovative new in-car gadget, according to a north Essex firm. But Essex Police are remaining tight-lipped about the impact the aromatherapy essential oil distributor could have
A yacht carrying eight people was left high and dry on sandbanks after running aground. The Easter Monday pleasure trip came to an abrupt end when the vessel struck Cork Sands, about three miles off the Walton coastline, just after 11am. Walton lifeboat
Fast-food giant McDonald's has had to scrap plans for a new drive-through restaurant in Colchester. The land at Turner Rise, earmarked to become the fast-food chain's fourth restaurant in the town, will now become a self-storage depot. The new restaurant
Political leaders have joined forces in a show of solidarity against controversial plans for a giant rubbish incinerator in Basildon. They backed a campaign group set up to fight the embryonic proposal for the giant waste burner in Courtauld Road. The
The line-up for Chelmsford's V2001 has just been announced. And among the big names set to grace the stages at Hylands Park are Coldplay, David Gray and Texas. There were fears the pop festival - one of the most popular in the country - would have been
A murder inquiry has been launched - eight years after a couple vanished without trace. China Rose Sims and her husband, David, mysteriously disappeared from their home in Lonsdale Road, Southend, in February 1993. Detectives have also revealed that David
Police have confirmed that a man who disappeared from his Wickford home in February has been found dead in London. The body of Martin Wilson was found on the track at Mile End Tube station after being hit by a train on March 26. The injuries he sustained
A postmaster has been recovering from shock after he was hit around the head with a gun by armed robbers who burst into his shop. The man was taking money out of the safe at KK News and Post Office in Prince Avenue, Westcliff, when the raiders ran into
George Burley believes Ipswich Town fans have still to see the best of Alun Armstrong, their two-goal hero at Middlesbrough. The Blues boss said: "Alun has done extremely well since joining us but he's still far from being the finished article. "Before
Star marksman Wayne Vaughan landed a twin-blow in Kent to keep Canvey Island's Ryman League Premier Division title dream very much alive. For, while Gulls were picking up all three points on their visit to the team immediately below them in the championship
Star man Joe Baker weaved his magic in magnificent fashion to give the New Lodge faithful a Bank Holiday boost and their best Ryman League Premier Division win of the season. Baker grabbed a hat-trick - two from the penalty spot - and had a hand in both
Former Peterborough player Simon Clark is desperate to captain Colchester to victory against his old side at Layer Road. The former Posh player is keen to get one over on his former club and old manager Barry Fry when the two sides meet in tonight's (
The body of an elderly man has been found in Walton backwaters. The discovery was made by a walker on Friday afternoon who spotted it floating in the water and alerted police and coastguards. Police said the body was thought to have been in the water
Colchester United have never won a League game on Bristol Rovers' territory. In fact in 11 times of trying since the 1950-51 season their first in the old Division Three (South) the best the U's have ever managed is four draws and two of those were in
Restrictions imposed because of the foot-and-mouth crisis have been lifted for a Chappel and Wakes Colne postwoman - but Trudi Cresswell is still not taking any chances. Miss Cresswell lives at her parents' farm at Inworth Lane, Wakes Colne, which was
Cash-strapped tourist attractions across Essex have been celebrating the return of the day tripper. Easter was a make-or-break weekend for many businesses, and the dull weather threatened to put the damper on days out. But bright sunshine on Good Friday
Unlucky Michael Kitchen could be forgiven if he gave up gardening - he keeps digging up unexploded grenades! The 58-year-old was putting compost on the flowerbeds at his Portlight Close home in Mistley, when his spade hit something metal. Mr Kitchen investigated
Southend United midfielder Kevin Maher admitted he was left shell-shocked by the death of referee Mike North. The 41-year-old suffered a suspected heart attack during yesterday's (Monday's) Third Division match against Mansfield Town, falling to the ground
Soccer fans were left stunned when the referee collapsed and died during a Southend United home game. The match was abandoned after Mike North suffered a suspected heart attack at 4pm, right on the stroke of half-time, silencing the crowd of 3,986 shocked
The sound of the Dambusters' theme will echo along Southend seafront when veteran Second World War aircraft take to the skies in this May's airshow. The magical roar of the Spitfire and Hurricane fighter planes along with the unmistakable thundering of
The farmer who is hosting GM trials on his land in Wivenhoe is to meet the town council behind closed doors. Jim Dutton, of Sunnymead Farm in Alresford Road, said he will be meeting councillors in private on Thursday. But he said he would not discuss
The future of a controversial mental health unit was thrown into doubt after the Government stepped in to prevent it taking in higher risk patients. Clare House, in Pound Lane, Bowers Gifford, will now only be able to house low-risk patients suffering
Cash relief earmarked for only the areas worst-hit by foot-and-mouth has met with "amazement and disbelief" in the eastern region. The Government is targeting £15 million at the regions most seriously affected by the epidemic. But the East of England
The line-up for Chelmsford's V2001 has just been announced. And among the big names set to grace the stages at Hylands Park are Coldplay, David Gray and Texas. There were fears the pop festival - one of the most popular in the country - would have been
A spate of vandalism at a recreation ground has led to frustrated committee members calling in the police. Alf Martin, long-serving groundsman at Great Yeldham sports ground, discovered vandals had defaced the cricket pitch by scuffing initials into the
Basildon Freestyle Kickboxing Club returned with a new national title after a night of mixed fortunes against top national and international competition at Bethnal Green's York Hall. Sixteen-year-old prospect Neil Burns was first to get a taste of the
Electricity firm 24seven had to bring in generators after cold weather and bumper visitor numbers caused power surges along the east coast. A huge overload on the power grid caused an electricity failure at one of Tendring's largest holiday parks. Hundreds
Southend United's rescheduled Division Three game with Mansfield Town will not go ahead tomorrow night, as originally hoped. The match was abandoned after referee Mike North collapsed just before half-time during yesterday's (Monday's) game and later
Forget the limited entertainment value and ignore the fact Ipswich Town were far from their best. The only thing which mattered after 90 minutes at Portman Road on Saturday was the score. Three more precious points courtesy of Marcus Stewart's clinically-executed
Commuters have been offered the hope of an improvement in running times of trains from today (Tuesday). Restrictions have been in place since the fatal Hatfield rail crash more than six months ago and rail passengers have faced both major and minor delays
This divine commandment may be a new addition to the biblical ten rules, but according to the vicar of St Michael's Church in Braintree it is definitely not a sign from God. Church leaders were at first dumbfounded about who could have bolted the sign
