It's that time of year again.

Cricket lovers from all over Essex will be packing their picnic hampers and cool boxes for the start of the annual Colchester county cricket festival today.

But with a mixed weather forecast for the next couple of days, they might be advised to dig out their brollies and cagoules as well - just in case.

The Castle Park ground has been transformed over the past ten days, with hoardings, the mobile scoreboard, grandstands and toilets arriving.

The sponsors' marquees have been put up to complete the festival scene.

Essex first played a first-class cricket match in Colchester in 1914, and 93 years on, Leicestershire will be their opponents for a four-day County Championship match starting tomorrow, with Sussex making the trip for a Pro-40 game on Sunday.

  • More in today's Gazette