THE leader of Essex County Council has pledged to plant 375,000 trees across Essex to reduce carbon levels. David Finch announced the Essex Climate Change Action Plan and the creation of an independent cross-party commission on climate change.
A PAEDOPHILE who offered sweets to a schoolgirl on a bus, asked her to marry him and approached young carol singers has been made the subject of a hospital order. John Drury, 94, is a registered sex offender having been convicted of 11 counts of
As part of Hospice Care Week, a national awareness week to raise the profile of the incredible work hospices do, St Helena Hospice in Colchester has highlighted the difference the support of the community makes to hospices and the people they care
THOUSANDS of crimes are being reported but not recorded in Essex, new figures have revealed. While Essex Police were rated as outstanding they still failed to record 6,700 crimes or properly track 2,500 violent crimes. The force defended its
A TRADE union president is coming to Colchester to speak about mental health in the workplace. GMB national president Barbara Plant will take part in a conference hosted by the Colchester Trades Union Council this Saturday. The theme of this
PART of the A120 is blocked following a crash involving multiple vehicles. It is blocked eastbound along Coggeshall Road, approaching Bradwell. The crash happened just after 3pm. We will update this story when more information comes
MORE GPs surgeries will be prescribing a dose of social help under a new scheme. North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group will continue its work with the voluntary sector to roll out “social prescribing” across 17 practices over the next two
A YOUTH cancer charity has announced the date for its Christmas fair. The Tom Bowdidge Youth Cancer Foundation’s annual event, which brings in hundreds of shoppers each year, already has a number of stallholders keen to show off their wares.
RAIL station car parks and platforms across East Anglia have been upgraded. Greater Anglia has invested more than £1million this year in keeping station car parks, approach roads, pedestrian crossings, bus lanes and platform surfaces in good condition
A much-loved chocolate shop which was forced to close due to falling sales is making a special return this Christmas. Minerva Chocolates, in Eld Lane, Colchester, said it would close at the end of last year despite staff trying everything to reduce
A GOVERNMENT investigation into a dissolved trust responsible for running two schools in Colchester and Brightlingsea was completed last year. A report detailing the findings revealed several breaches of the government's Academies Financial Handbook
A DETERMINED fundraiser pushed his legs to their limits by cycling ten miles-a-day for a month in aid of Cancer Research UK. Ross Redmond, of Brooklyn Road, Dovercourt, has completed cycling 300 miles throughout September on an exercise bike to
BAVARIAN bratwursts with a twist were on offer at a vegan Oktoberfest. Shakers Dairy Free in Colchester hosted the unique event to promote their ethical independent business. The cafe in Eld Lane hosted a feast with traditional style bratwurst
FAMILIES of three men who were killed in Colchester have paid tribute to their loved ones. Danny Gibson, 35, his brother Jason Gibson, 31, and Richard Booth, 35, were found dead on Sunday. The Gibsons were discovered inside a property in Wellesley
The managing director of a firm hired to carry out extensive projects for the trust has defended its ties to school staff. An investigation into The Thrive Partnership Academy Trust said while there were no direct trust board connections with Mackman
A TOTAL of 135 new police officers should be working in the county after the first year of a new recruitment drive. The Home Office has set Essex Police the target as part of a plan to increase officer numbers across the country by 20,000 over the
Colchester United season-ticket holder Si Collinson's views on the U's WHICH qualities ensure a player is the first name on a teamsheet at a football club? The goals? The assists? Being a crowd favourite? This list goes on and can have a multitude
A KEY system has been installed at a public toilet which was being vandalised and used by rough sleepers. The toilet near the entrance to Colchester Cemetery, off Mersea Road, has been the focus of anti-social behaviour and drug misuse. Colchester
ESSEX Police are referring themselves to a watchdog over their response to an incident which later saw three people found stabbed to death. The force confirmed that they were initially called to a concern for welfare in Wellesley Road, Colchester
A DAMNING report has lifted the lid on “irregular expenditure” at a dissolved academy trust – including the payment of almost £140,000 to a company with connections to school staff. Thrive Partnership Academy Trust, which was responsible for managing
RESIDENTS say historic priory should be used as an open air cinema in order to make better use of the site. A consultation run by Colchester Council to see how St Botolph’s Priory could be better used found residents’ top three priorities are more
A GOVERNMENT investigation will “remain an important record” despite an academy trust no longer existing. The investigation, which was carried out by the government’s Education and Skills Funding Agency, concluded the trust needed to take urgent
A DETERMINED mother who is scared of heights is preparing to abseil down an Olympic monument on what would have been her late daughter’s 18th birthday. Jemma Sawford, 47, of Clacton, gave birth to baby Ruby at Clacton Hospital in 2002 when she
COLCHESTER is one of the most climate-friendly areas in the country, according to new rankings released by environmental experts. Green campaign group Friends of the Earth assessed councils across the UK in categories including renewable energy
COLCHESTER United head coach John McGreal was disappointed they couldn't seal victory after they drew 1-1 with Spurs under-21s in the Leasing.com Trophy. The U's missed out on a bonus point in Group A after losing 6-5 in a penalty shoot-out with
