A DOG owner says she is being forced to take taxis and can’t use public transport after a bus driver banned her dog from his vehicle. Pensioner Pat Close, from Thomas Street, Brightlingsea, tried to take her 12-year-old lapdog, Jimpy, to her nearest
A PAIR of pensioners acted as snow Samaritans for frail neighbours in their street. Barbara Watts and Pam Chatfield have been helping the elderly in Devon Road, Shrub End, Colchester, by fetching their prescriptions and going shopping for essentials
EVIL rapist Slawomir Blasiak was on the run from police in Poland when her raped a vulnerable teenage girl in Colchester. The convicted robber, 43, escaped his homeland and settled here, where he raped the 15-year-old girl as she contemplated
TAXI companies have defended their actions in doubling fares because of the bad weather. One customer was left angry after having to pay £15 to travel from Wivenhoe to Greenstead on Saturday. The man, who asked not to be named, said: “Some taxi companies
TWO teenagers beat a man with the metal tube from a vacuum cleaner and a sheathed samurai sword in a daylight attack in Colchester. Zak Walker and a friend armed themselves after they had been involved in a fight with three men, Colchester
FREE swimming is on offer at Colchester Leisure World’s fitness pool this week. To celebrate a £900,000 refurbishment programme, free swimming is on offer during all early morning, lunchtime and evening public sessions until Sunday. The improvements
STARS of a TV docu-drama will be guests of honour at a leprosy fundraiser in Colchester. The Grewals, who went under the microscope in the Family, on Channel 4, have accepted an invitation from Colchester-based charity Lepra Health in Action to attend
THE snowy conditions have barely affected Colchester’s refuse collection system. Colchester Council’s intrepid binmen have collected more than 98 per cent of bags left out last week. Council bosses praised staff who have had to walk up to 15 miles a
DRUMMERS are more used to counting in than counting down, but one Colchester musician gave Countdown an injection of rock and roll when he appeared on the show. Andy Hewitt, drummer with local band Morpheus, took part in the Channel 4 quiz
Colchester Zoo's managers have been left reeling by the financial cost to business of the recent snow. With temperatures below zero and snow on the ground during the zoo's busy Christmas period and for more than a week in January, visitor figures are
I write in response to comments made by councillor Tim Young (Letters, January 4). He said: “There is not one day when some refuse and recycling has not been collected.” I’m afraid this statement is not entirely correct. On December 29, my
It was good to read that the manager of Tiptree medical centre has won an award (Gazette, December 24). My wife recently suffered a stroke. The medical staff everywhere have been fantastic, from the first responders, ambulance crew and hospital
> I write this letter to say a very big thank you to Lyn Barton, our councillor for Shrub End. For two years, I have tried all sorts of communication and pleas to get the cul-de-sac in Devon Road resurfaced. I contacted other councillors
On Wednesday I had to walk to the doctor’s in Mersea Road, Colchester, with my son. It was snowing quite fast and the driving conditions were dangerous as the snow was turning to ice on the road as the cars were driving over it and compacting
I write in response to Peter Halliday’s letter in the Gazette (January 5) under the outrageous headline “Shopmobility irresponsible”. As a local resident and council taxpayer, I am gratified on one level to see one of our elected representatives
Colchester United have appealed to supporters to help them clear the Weston Homes Community Stadium pitch of snow. The U's are facing a race against time to get the pitch ready for their much-anticipated clash with Norwich City on Saturday, following
Essex County Cricket Club can look back on 2009 with pride and satisfaction. It was the year they finally earned their place back among county cricket’s big guns, by winning promotion to LV County Championship division one. Mark Pettini’s side had sunk
Roy Keane believes his side are still capable of making the play-offs. The Ipswich Town boss was reflecting on yesterday’s hard-earned 1-1 draw at high-flying Leicester City. The Blues are 19th in the table but have hauled themselves out of the bottom
Kevin Lisbie is likely to see out the season at Colchester United – unless an offer is received for the striker before the end of this month. The Ipswich Town front man is on a season-long loan at the U’s but the indications were that he would be recalled
Colchester United stalwart Joe Dunne wants to be a manager in his own right within the next ten years. And he would love the chance to take charge of the U’s some time in the future. The popular Irishman (pictured below) has just completed a decade
TWO cocktail kits, a DVD player and a computer were stolen in a burglary in Middleborough, Colchester. A 31-year-old man from Colchester has been arrested and bailed pending further enquiries in connection with the incident. Anyone with information
COLCHESTER avoided the worst of the snow as the UK continues to suffer from freezing temperatures. Schools across the region are expected to return today after heavy snow and sheet ice forced many to close. Main roads have been gritted and are currently
