FORMER Ipswich Town, Colchester United and England footballer Kevin Beattie has admitted falsely claiming benefits. Beattie, 58, of Wren Avenue, Ipswich, won nine caps for his country in the Seventies and was part of Sir Bobby Robson's golden era at
FOOTBALLERS could be given the red card from a village football field for turning the air blue. Dedham Parish Council has received scores of complaints from residents fed up with hearing foul language from footballers during matches and practice sessions
THE owner of a dilapidated listed 18th-century building says it has become a drinking den and should be condemned. Jimmy Purdy claims Brook House, in Maldon Road, Tiptree, should be knocked down because antisocial youths are putting themselves at risk
YOU don’t expect to find wildlife like this on your doorstep when you live in the heart of suburbia. Tim Rendle was shocked to discover this small, doe-eyed muntjac deer grazing in the back garden of his home in Cedars Road, Colchester, on Saturday
Colchester will host Ipswich Town in a pre-season friendly on August 8, kick-off 7.45pm. The two East Anglian clubs will battle it out in a friendly for the second successive year, at the Weston Homes Community Stadium. Last season's friendly between
A LONG-STANDING Colchester business is beating the recession with an ethos that goes from the shop floor to the other side of the world. Flakt Woods managing director Allan Hurdle joined the fan and ventilation system manufacturers just before the economic
SAVVY students could save themselves almost £40 by applying for a rebate on their TV licence. If they are moving back home for the summer holidays and no longer need their own licence they can claim back a quarter of the fee if there are three clear
BRITAIN’S strongest men met Colchester’s military heroes to promote a festival of brawn. Hercules Olympia will feature a weekend of adrenaline-packed events and superhuman feats, including a world record attempt for the biggest dead lift. Britain’s
A STUDENT wrongly sent a huge council tax bill is seeking legal advice. Shocked Joanne Taylor, 22, was threatened with court action over an £840 council tax bill, six months after returning from Birmingham University. Miss Taylor, who lives with her
COLCHESTER’S Real Ale and Cider Festival will return at the tale end of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The 27th Colchester Real Ale and Cider Festival 2012 will take place at Colchester Arts Centre from Bank Holiday Tuesday, June 5 until Saturday
TRAVELLERS have been evicted from an illegal site by bailiffs. Three families moved on to land opposite the Rapid Electronics site off Severalls Lane, Colchester, on Thursday. It was the second time in as many months that travellers had moved onto the
AN EQUALITY charity is appearing at Firstsite to discuss improving life for gay and transgender people in Essex. Outhouse East, formally known as Colchester Gay Switchboard, has conducted a survey highlighting what needs to be done to support minority
MOTORISTS faced long rush hour delays after a crash which damaged a bridge on the A12. Two lanes of the southbound A12 were blocked, after a digger which was being carried on a lorry struck the Wellington Bridge and fell on the carriageway. The incident
CHILDREN in Colchester will get a chance to try university life at a free one-day event this weekend. Essex University is running a Kids Uni, to get primary school children excited about higher education. The event, being held at Firstsite, Colchester
POTENTIAL volunteers for a jubilee festival in a Colchester estate are invited to a reception event to find out more. Voices for Greenstead is organising the free two-day event during June 2-3 to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Volunteers are
Colchester United supporters have experienced their fair share of ups and downs this season. Had the U’s continued their blistering opening day form throughout the whole of the campaign, they may well have been planning for life in a higher division
A COMMUNITY is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its community centre with a party and everyone is invited. Members of the Hythe Community Centre Association, in Ventura Drive, will be hosting a triple celebration on Saturday, June 2. Residents,
GANGS of thieves operating in Colchester nightspots have stolen more than £50,000 worth of mobile phones. Police are carrying out covert and overt operations at bars and clubs in the town centre as they attempt to combat the problem. A senior officer
A FREE swim is on offer to launch the summer season at Brightlingsea’s outdoor pool. The swimming pool has been refurbished during the winter with filters updated and new toilets, sinks and a hot water system put in. New weather boarding, plastering
A CRACKDOWN on illegal tobacco is being supported in Colchester. More than 500 people have pledged to help combat the problem with more than 8,000 across the east of England. Campaigners, including councillors and NHS and trading standards staff have
POLLUTION hunting robotic fish built by Essex University academics have been trialled in a Spanish port. The 1.8 metre long carp-shaped fish, built using European Union funding, yesterday patrolled the Port of Gijon to show how they can identify pollutants
TWELVE scholarships are up for grabs for new students at the Colchester Institute. The scholarships, worth £3,000, are on offer to students currently studying for a level three qualification and enrolling for the first year of a full-time undergraduate
A TEA party is being held for youngsters in Brightlingsea. The Colne Parents’ Voice group has organised the event to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. As well as the tea party there will be a decorated hat competition, royal fancy dress, games
THE owner of a dilapidated listed building could be forced to make it weather-tight for the first time in 25 years. Colchester Council is considering serving an urgent works notice on the owner of Brook House, in Maldon Road, Tiptree. That would require
Crooks have stolen jewellery worth a three-figure sum from a Colchester home. A house in Exeter Drive was targeted at around 4pm yesterday. Investigating officer PC Spencer Keeble said: "This break-in happened in daylight and at a time when there would
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IN TODAY'S GAZETTE: A GAMBLER stole thousands of pounds from his best friend to pay for his addiction. Jeffrey Hamblion, of Layer Road, Colchester, stolen £3,500 from his employer and friend Colin Thompson. * Gangs of thieves have been operating in
