Colchester United defender Tom Bender is said to be suffering from "severe concussion" following his head injury playing on loan for Accrington Stanley against Tranmere Rovers tonight. But doctors are said to be "happy" with the scans the 18-year-old
Tom Bender is said to be in a "stable" condition in hosptial after suffering a serious head injury while playing on loan for Accrington Stanley tonight. The 18-year-old Colchester United defender was injured in an accidental collision with
Colchester United defender Tom Bender, who has suffered suspected head injuries playing on loan for Accrington Stanley tonight, is rated as a hot prospect by the U’s. The 18-year-old defender, who has progressed through the U’s youth ranks
A CRITIC’S claim Colchester’s new arts centre will not be a success because of Essex’s “chav-stained” reputation has been refuted. The Daily Telegraph’s review of the opening of Firstsite claimed the £28million venue will struggle because art
A THRIVING youth club is on the verge of closure because it is about to be made homeless. The 4Youth Centre, in Tower Street, Brightlingsea, was set up 12 years ago by a group of residents keen to provide a place for young people to meet. But the dilapidated
ACTION to improve the forgotten part of Colchester has been promised in three months. Colchester Council has drawn up a 24-point action plan to boost the Hythe. It follows a meeting last month when residents compared the appearance of
A 20-tonne tractor has broken down on London Road, Marks Tey. The vehicle ran into technical difficulties shortly before 7am, on the slip road to the A12. It is understood the hydraulics on the tractor failed. Work has now begun to
EASTENDERS swapped Albert Square for Clacton to shoot the show’s Christmas episodes. Crowds gathered to watch as scenes were filmed on the promenade near Clacton Pier. Actress Pam St Clement, who plays Pat Butcher, was among the stars on set. Unconfirmed
RAW, honest and varied. These are the poignant words of troops, who, among the desert dust took a few moments to put pen to paper during their time on the Afghan frontline. War artist Derek Eland spent a month in Helmand province asking soldiers to
A YOUNG woman seen carrying a bread knife in a Colchester street has escaped being locked up. A court heard how a concerned neighbour called police after she saw a group of people shouting and swearing outside a flat in Solway Court.
COUNCIL tax bills looks set to be frozen for the second consecutive year. Chancellor George Osborne announced yesterday the Government will spend £800million to allow town halls not to increase the tax. Councils that do not raise spending in 2012/13
A COLCHESTER soldier who carried a wounded comrade to safety during a massive firefight in Afghanistan is to receive the Military Cross. Acting Corporal Darragh Miskella, 24, from 3rd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, has been revealed as the latest
WITHAM MP Priti Patel was forced to miss the Conservative Party Conference after being in a car accident. Ms Patel had been due to attend the conference which started on Sunday in Manchester. One of her aide declined to comment on any injuries but
PARENTS have voiced concerns over a fresh application to erect a mobile phone mast. Vodafone wants a 14.8m mast at the junction of Eastwood Drive and Highclere Road, in High Woods, Colchester, close to Highwoods Community Primary School. An application
MORE than 10,000 people attended a controversial new art gallery in Colchester during its first week. Bosses couldn’t be happier with the initial influx of those fascinated with the Firstsite building, designed by Rafael Vinoly. Costing £25million
I wouldn’t suggest the supporters of Firstsite change their view on the project, so in the same vein, should supporters be lecturing critics such as Bob Russell to change? (Gazette, September 29). Critics, like Mr Russell, will strive to keep
I am delighted to read your article Our Recycling Centre Could Still Be Saved (Gazette, September 29). I congratulate those who have campaigned to retain the centre. It is good to see that collective effort might achieve a change of heart in
A CAMPAIGN has been launched for a vandal-proof play area on an unused patch of land on Colchester’s Greenstead estate. Voices for Greenstead residents’ association hopes to build the play area for children living in and around Balfe Court. Nicola Davey
Like most of the country, I have been waiting in vain for even a hint of a mumbled, shame-faced apology from all the great and good supporters of the European Union who tried and failed to get us to join the Eurozone. The chief culprits were
I am writing just to say thank you to everyone who supported the coffee morning at Earls Colne Village Hall on September 23. Local businesses were very generous in donating raffle prizes, which ranged from hair styling to dog washing. With the
Once again we have another story of Colchester Council’s black bin bags splitting open too easily (Gazette September 30) and once again we see comments from the council denying the bags are too thin. For the many hundreds, probably thousands
SKATEBOARDERS have adopted the arts centre as their new home. More than 40 youths have been practising their hobby outside the building. A resident called for the skateboarders to be banned, but Firstsite has not revealed if it will try to stop the
POLICE have found an 80-year-old Colchester woman with Alzheimer’s after she was reported missing last night. Ann Moore, of Wheatfield Road, Stanway, had not been seen since about 7pm last night. Concerned officers conducted a search of
COLCHESTER Council spent more than £5million paying for the pensions of its staff and retired employees in 2010/11, new figures reveal. The authority has had to increase the amount it spends on former workers because they are living longer. Payments
YOBBISH behaviour has got so bad in a Stanway estate residents are selling up, it is claimed. Booze-fuelled groups of teenagers have been terrorising residents in Woden Avenue. They have been accused of starting fires, defecating in a play area and
A HOMELESS man who stole alcohol and crisps has been spared jail. James Forset, 31, of no fixed address, admitted stealing goods worth £31.67 on Thursday, September 22 from Marks and Spencer in Colchester when he appeared at Colchester Magistrates’
A PREGNANT woman and her seven-year-old son were left shaken after a hit and run driver smashed into their car. Yas Rai’s partner Wendy was driving in Mersea Road on Thursday at 4.15pm when a Ford Focus car pulled out of Meyrick Crescent and hit her
A PEDESTRIAN was hit by a van on Colne Bank Avenue, Colchester. Police said the incident, which happened during rush hour traffic, left the 52-year-old male victim with minor injuries. He was in collision with a Ford Connect van driven
Colchester United are keen to extend winger Michail Antonio’s loan spell for a third and final month. The 21-year-old has made a big impact for the U’s since joining them on loan from Reading, six weeks ago. Antonio capped a fine man-of-the-match performance
COLCHESTER Council needs to spend £5.2million to bring sheltered housing schemes up to scratch, it has been revealed. Figures have been released showing it will recoup £1.6million by selling Joyce Brooks House in Oxford Road, Colchester and Abbeygate
A BROKEN down tractor has caused traffic delays in Stanway. The machine has broken down on the B1408 (London Road).
A CHARITY has made the record books by reclaiming the title for the world’s largest piggy back race. History Maker Foundation organised the event with 322 piggy-backing pairs competing in Lower Castle Park on Sunday. It previously held
A RETIRED teacher who is acting as a observer at the travellers site in Dale Farm, Basildon, has described the menacing atmosphere. Jan Plumber, 65, from Colchester, is taking part in the daily protests at the site. Mrs Plumber, who used to teach children
A LONG-AWAITED road linking Stanway to Colchester looks set to be delayed again. Developers of the bypass, linking the A12 with Warren Lane via the Tollgate retail park, have indicated they will not start work and a proposed housing development for
