In today's Gazette: A man has been accused of conning investors out of £200,000 by convincing them to buy trees in India to create bio-fuel.

Michael Murphy, 45, of York Road, Earls Colne, appeared before Colchester magistrates accused of defrauding investors and transferring criminally-gained cash.

* A teenager diagnosed with cancer is raising money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Former Colchester Royal Grammar School student Tom Bowdidge, of West Bergholt, has been sponsored to have his head shaved - saying he will get in first before it falls out due to his chemotherapy treatment.

* A man jailed for ten years for rape has walked free after charges against him were dropped. Edward Payne, 59, of Tolleshunt Major, had been due to have a retrial but the prosecution offered no evidence against him.

* Essex County Council leader Peter Martin has apologised following delays in its meals on wheels service.

For more on these and other great stories, see today's Gazette. There is always more in the paper than there is online.