METAL thieves have caused misery for two charities. They stole a catalytic converter from the van used by Stepping Stones, which cares for children with special needs, and the Gateway club, a social group for adults with learning difficulties. Catalytic
A MUM is to take school bosses to a tribunal in a bid to win her autistic son the education she believes he needs. Essex County Council wants to send Alex Hacon, 16, to Lexden Springs School in Halstead Road, Colchester, from this September. Suzanne
A £1.2MILLION revamp at Colchester’s Leisure World, including the introduction of self-service kiosks, will start in September, it has been revealed. The facelift will also include extending the leisure centre’s Activa Gym and spinning area, building
A FRONT door was smashed with a brick in Colchester. Vandals entered the property in Roman Road on Monday searching the house before leaving empty handed. Investigating officer PC Amanda Beck said: "A brick was thrown though a pane of glass in the
A PREGNANT cat was dumped on a playing field. The tabby was left in a carrier box on St Andrew’s Field in Greenstead, Colchester. Sarah Elmy, RSPCA inspector, took the cat to a vet for a check-up after she was found by a member of the public. The cat
A FAMILY who founded a charitable trust have announced a host of fundraising events. The Robin Cancer Trust was launched last month by the family of Robin Freeman who died, aged 24, from a form of germ cell cancer in December. Brother Toby, 22, is
A BUSINESS which was hit by thieves has been forced to close after insurers refused to pay out. Penny Lane Computers, in Greenstead, Colchester, shut because a technicality meant the store’s insurers would not pay out tens-of-thousands-of-pounds in an
A NEW business has received a boost after being spotted by a Dragons Den entrepreneur. MaryAnn Morris, 30, runs a candle and crafts website One Stop Pamper Shop, and opened her first shop in Sir Isaac’s Walk, Colchester, a month ago. The fledgling
COLCHESTER’S new Mayor launched his year with a pledge to sing out about the music talent which can be discovered in the town. In a packed Moot Hall, long-serving Conservative councillor Christopher Arnold today received the Badges of Office and took
IT is set to be a busy summer for St Helena Hospice. As it marks its 27th anniversary, it is moving its fundraising offices, distribution centre and one of its shops to bigger premises in Peartree Road, Stanway. The change has come about as a direct
A BY election has been launched in Stanway after parish councillor Andy Whitaker resigned. Nomination forms are available from Stanway Parish Council clerk Colleen Moss at the Victory Hall, in Villa Road, Stanway, and at Colchester Council, at Rowan
THE creme de la creme of cars revved up at a restaurant celebrating its 60th anniversary. Porches, Aston Martins and Ferraris were among the cars which descended upon Le Talbooth, in Dedham, for its first supercar rally. The two-day
SPORTS science experts from Essex University will help a man cycle 3,000 in 10 days in aid of charity. A team from the Human Performance Unit will help Chris Armishaw, 47, complete the Race Across America, dubbed the world’s toughest bike race. The
ONE lane of the A12 has been closed because of a lorry fire. Emergency services were called at 11.10am on Wednesday after the HGV caught fire at the Marks Tey junction. All lanes were opened by 12pm.
POLICE want to hear from witnesses after a break in at a Colchester golf club. Lexden Wood Golf Club in Bakers Lane was targeted by thieves between 9.30pm on May 18 and 6am the following morning. A window was broken to gain entry. Cash and bottled
A MAN who left his laptop on the floor while loading his car has appealed for its return. Mark Williams put the Sony Vaio laptop down on the ground while putting boxes in his car in Culver Street East yesterday. He forgot to load the laptop and drove
Jai Reason may be set to depart Braintree Town after he rejected a new deal offered by the club. Iron manager Alan Devonshire revealed to the Times that the 22-year-old former Ipswich Town and Cambridge United midfielder, who made 44 appearances for
AN ELDERLY man was taken to hospital after tripping over a pavement marked for repairs - but not fixed. The man, thought to be aged 76, was taken to Colchester General Hospital for treatment after he fell over a crack in the path along Ipswich Road,
A DYING man was told he must pay for the remaining eight months of his mobile phone contract if he cancels it before he dies. Terence Allen, 62, was diagnosed with oesophagus, liver and stomach cancer last Friday and given a life expectancy of eight
GET A FREE HOT DRINK WHEN YOU BUY A CAKE AT POPPY'S VICTORIAN TEA ROOM, TRINITY STREET, COLCHESTER - ONLY WITH TODAY'S GAZETTE
A PREGNANT cat abandoned on a Colchester playing field has been rescued by RSPCA officers. The young adult was left in a carrier box on St Andrew’s Field, Greenstead, around 1pm last Tuesday. RSPCA Inspector Sarah Elmy took the cat to a vet for a
THERE’S an artistic Royal Diamond Jubilee treat in store at St Leonard’s Church, Lexden, next month. Lexden Arts Festival runs from June 2 until June 5, featuring an art exhibition, two concerts and a film night. It starts on the Saturday with a 7.30pm
PROPOSALS to knock down empty buildings and reveal a historic Colchester Priory to the town’s public and visitors appear to have been scuppered. The entrance to St Botolph’s Priory, the first Augustinian Order priory in the country, and the
THE GAZETTE HAS THE LATEST IPAD 16GB TO GIVE AWAY TO ONE LUCKY READER. SEE TODAY'S PAPER TO FIND OUT HOW TO ENTER THE COMPETITION.
IN TODAY'S GAZETTE: WORK is set to start on the £7 million Western Bypass. The road aims to reduce congestion by linking the A12 with Warren Lane via the Tollgate retail centre and work is due to start in July. * A £1.2 million revamp is to be carried
A GAMBLER stole thousands of pounds from his best friend to pay for his addiction. Jeffrey Hamblion, of Layer Road, Colchester, stole £3,500 from his employer and friend, Colin Thompson. Mr Thompson, who had known Hamblion since school
