A FORMER bank worker has been jailed for stealing £48,000. Fraudster Samantha Smith, 29, got a young assistant at NatWest to help her apply for two loans in the names of her grandparents. A court heard Smith, of St Johns’ Road, Clacton, had spent all
PLANS for Colchester’s first ice skating rink have been unveiled. David Pullen wants to convert Heath House, in Whitehall Industrial Estate’s Grange Way, into the £250,000 attraction. Mr Pullen, 42, of St John’s Road, Clacton, wanted to open a rink
THE land where iconic author Daniel Defoe’s house once stood has been approved for development of new homes. Council planners have voted through proposals to build nine houses on the former Tubswick site, in Mill Road, Colchester. The grade II listed
A SPORTSMAN has died after collapsing following a squash match. Staff at the Harwich Sports Centre in Hall Lane, Dovercourt, tried to resuscitate the man, in his 60s, after the incident on Thursday afternoon. Councillor Peter Halliday
A COLCHESTER paratrooper was killed by a single punch to the head, a court heard. A jury, at Northampton Crown Court, heard Private Rory McWilliams, 20, from Second Battalion the Parachute Regiment, died a week after being hit by Levy Chandler, 26.
I read with interest the item headlined: “Protest over recycling centre axe” (Gazette, September 19). I support Tendring Council’s efforts to save the site at St Osyth. I also want to remind Wivenhoe readers the closure of Martin’s Farm will have
While not in any way condoning those who shoot at and injure cats with pellet or BB guns, it is sometimes understandable. If you are one of the many who encourages birds into your garden by putting out food and nest boxes, it is extremely annoying
We had a feeling sheltered housing would be sold after an estate agent looked around our scheme. Our scheme is safe at the moment, but we get the feeling Colchester Borough Homes does not want to be responsible for sheltered housing any more.
Why are the traveller familes of Dale Farm, Basildon, building homes without planning permission when investigative journalists have shown some own property in Rathkeale, in the Republic of Ireland. Other people abusing the planning system would
Colchester Lib Dem MP Bob Russell seems to enjoy rewriting history and misrepresenting reality. But his comments on the Firstsite building, the bus station and the Labour Party broke new ground, even for him. Firstsite was not directly financed
A SOCIAL club has been raided four times since it closed. Greenstead Social Club, in Blackthorn Avenue, Colchester, has been boarded up after running out of money. The break-ins have caused £1,150 damage. Trustee Wendy Winter said burglars had damaged
A BUS driver has described his shock after being robbed by a passenger. The young lout thanked Colin Cornish for the journey before punching him in the face and grabbing cash. The First bus driver was on the number 65 route and pulled into a stop in
A MAN has been rescued by firefighters after jumping into the River Colne. Police, fire and ambulance crews were called to a bridge over the river at East Hill at 9.30am following reports a man, believed to have mental health problems, was
U’s CHAIRMAN Robbie Cowling has admitted the club will never be successful on their fan base alone. The club has an average home league gate of just 4,069 at the Weston Homes Community Stadium this season and are expecting a modest crowd against Walsall
A COMMUNITY group says it is ready to buy a historic building, if a potter’s project to demolish and replace it fails. Colchester Council’s planning committee was tonight due to rule on Pru Green’s application to demolish the St John Ambulance building
HUNDREDS of residents have voiced their concerns over a new quarry and transport site in Ardleigh. The proposed sand and gravel pit would cover 250 acres of agricultural land – the equivalent of about 150 football pitches. Seven million tonnes of material
TWO primary schools will be expanded after Essex’s smallest school closed. Governors closed St Andrew’s Primary, in Wormingford, in July after Essex County Council said it was costing taxpayers too much to run. Now the council has submitted plans to
