FIREFIGHTERS were called to 150 tonnes of baled straw on fire in Bradwell. Crews from Burnham, South Woodham and Maldon were called to the blaze at Bradwell Airfield at 8.20pm. They used one hose reel and two water backpacks to tackle
GOVERNORS at a primary school are opposing plans to build a mobile phone mast nearby, citing safety concerns. Nigel Hookway, headteacher of Highwoods Community Primary School in Tynedale Square, Colchester, said Vodafone’s proposed mast would be too
A DAD who lost his daughter in the prime of her life refused to let altitude sickness prevent him from scaling the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Determined Phillip Kitchener, 59, battled on and after a six-day trek finally reached the
POLICE are searching for a former armed response police officer who has gone missing in Colchester. Former Met Police officer Steven Reis, 35, went missing from his parents home in Rowhedge Road at 5.20pm on Monday. Concerns have been raised for his
A PRO-TRAVELLER campaigner says there are not enough official pitches in Essex. Grattan Puxon, from Colchester, blamed the Government for not sanctioning enough legal sites. Mr Puxon, who has led a campaign for more than 90 families to stay at an illegal
COLCHESTER’S mayor has lent her support to an overnight sleepover in Castle Park to raise money for and awareness about homeless people. Helen Chuah is backing Colchester Housing Forum’s Sleep Out on Friday at 8pm. Residents have been
Diabetics are being urged to join a patients group. Primary care trust NHS North East Essex is appealing for people to attend its diabetes patient forum. The group, launched last year, aims to help patients influence services in their area. Linda Jewsbury
GUNNERS are swapping the desert for the sea with a charity sail across the Atlantic. Soldiers from Colchester’s 7th Parachute Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, are back from a six-month tour in Afghanistan. Instead of sitting back and relaxing, a team
ELIZABETH Crosses will be given to the families of 21 soldiers by Prince Charles on Thursday. Following on from today’s visit to Colchester Garrison by Princess Anne, The Prince of Wales will be visiting, with The Duchess of Cornwall, to hand
AN online campaign to save the smallest primary school in Essex has already attracted nearly 200 supporters. Essex County Council is consulting parents and others this week on proposals to close St Andrew’s School, Wormingford, which has only
SINGING sensation Rumer has announced her autumn tour with a date in Ipswich. Her November tour comes a year after the release of her debut album, Seasons Of My Soul, which has sold more than half a million copies in the UK. The singer/songwriter has
Reading coverage and interviews regarding the bid for Colchester to achieve city status, one would be forgiven for assuming the main selling point of our town is the heritage which we enjoy. While perhaps not on the same scale as Colchester
My wife and I attended the big parade last Tuesday to welcome the boys and girls home. I can’t help wondering if these guys don’t have a proper uniform – No1 Home Dress, as it used to be called. In my day, you would never be allowed off base
As a local resident, I would like to air my views on the lack of shops in Colchester. I grew up in Brentwood, which is a much smaller town than Colchester, and I always remember thinking Colchester was an interesting town to visit. How times
The story of the scrap TV, the pensioner and Colchester Council (Gazette, June 6) is a tale for our time. It was good to see Tony Friedlander on TV running to the rescue. How right he was. If common sense ever catches on, all our politicians
As a parent, grandparent and retired primary school teacher, I read your June 9 article about the proposed Saturday school at Colchester Academy’s with great interest. I’m all for helping children to achieve their full potential in every aspect
THE ESSEX shoreline has been branded the Discovery Coast in a bid to inspire more visitors. Visit Essex, the official tourism organisation for the county, hopes the title will give the area a strong identity to help boost the number of visitors
IN TODAY'S GAZETTE: Travellers camping illegally next to Colchester Community Stadium say they will keep returning until an authorised site is provided... Another dog dies after eating poison left out for foxes... Two waste composting schemes get
AN appeal is being started to raise £150,000 for a church on Mersea Island which dates back more than 1,000 years. Fundraising group, the Friends of West Mersea Parish Church, will be launched on Saturday. The Church of St Peter and St Paul is used
A BIG Colchester company is on the move – but to premises less than a mile away. Albea, which was formerly known as Betts, announced plans to move from its base in Ipswich Road in 2008. Concerns were raised the company, which employs about 180 people
DETECTIVES are appealing for witnesses after a person was spotted lying at the side of the A12 in Colchester. Police received three calls from motorists concerned for the welfare of the person. One report said the person was seen in
ATTACK dogs have caused more than £18,000 of damage to trees in Colchester's Castle Park. The owners of pit bulls and other vicious breeds are being blamed for encouraging dogs to bite the trees’ bark as a way of toughening them up. Ian Baalham, Colchester
