A MOVEMENT for quiet gardens has gained its latest space - in a town centre vicarage. Halstead vicarage's garden was blessed on Saturday by a former bishop connected to the area. Retired bishop Edward Holland, who was Bishop of Colchester, is good friends
COMMUTERS are at a loss over where to park their vehicles after a clearway came into force near Manningtree station. The new parking measures came into force yesterday. It means drivers who have been parking on the verges from Cox's Hill, past the station
BABY volunteers can become junior scientists by taking part in a fun research experiment. Dr Claudia Uller, from the department of psychology at Essex University, is looking for 100 ten-month-old volunteers to help with a simple test. The babies will
One of Colchester's biggest employers has today announced it is set to cut jobs. Toothpaste tube manufacturer Betts, which employs 214 staff at its base in Ipswich Road, has blamed pressure from countries where cheaper labour is available for the forthcoming
SHOCKING new figures show about 20 per cent of healthcare staff in north Essex have experienced violence from patients in the past year. About 433 staff at North East Essex Primary Care Trust (PCT), which provides front-line care, such as walk-in centres
ACTORS from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre will be returning to Essex this summer. Last year, the famous troupe performed Romeo and Juliet at Hedingham Castle in Castle Hedingham. They will return in July with an open- air performance of The Winter's Tale
A FORMER high sheriff of Essex has been appointed one of four deputy lord lieutenants in the county. Christopher Stewart Smith CBE, 67, may be asked to welcome the Queen and other members of the royal family on state visits to the county. He is officially
A tractor overturned spilling fertilizer and causing major delays in north Essex. Police were called to Brightlingsea Road in Thorrington at around 10.20am today. The road was closed between Thorrington Cross and Sampsons Corner while the scene was
THE President of Chile has been awarded an honorary degree from Essex University. Michelle Bachelet was honoured in recognition of her achievements in strengthening justice and democracy in the South American country. She was presented with the degree
A TOWN crier celebrated 21 years of service with an exhibition of photographs amassed from his numerous engagements. John "Skip" Papworth, 77, has donned his regalia for regular appearances at events in Kelvedon, Witham and the surrounding villages,
CHURCHGOERS who have been helping revellers on Friday nights have been praised by police. Twenty street pastors have been patrolling Colchester town centre until as late as 5am on Saturdays. They have been helping people who have had too much drink
By the end of the interview, those chickens would have names. Frances-Ruth Barker gave a rather pitying look. "They aren't pets," she declared. "They are livestock - and livestock do not have names." The two chickens in question were clucking contentedly
Colchester hospital bosses are recruiting volunteers in an "adopt-a-ward" scheme. Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust says the scheme will give extra support to nursing staff during hectic times. Volunteers will be expected to help out with a range of tasks
Police are appealing for witnesses after a "very violent" robbery in Colchester. Detectives have released a computer-generated image of the man they believe carried out the attack in Hilly Fields, Colchester, which left a 65-year-old bruised and shaken
A drink-driver crashed into a car on his way back from the pub after downing seven litres (12 pints) of cider and then assaulted a man on crutches, putting him in hospital. Alcoholic Simon Lockley, 42, from Earls Colne, drove a pal to the Five Bells
Sporty youngsters were kept busy, thanks to Essex University. During school breaks, the sports centre on Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, played host to up to 50 children for a host of sporting activities. Every day between 9.30am and 5pm, they tried their
A man who carried out an "unprovoked and sustained" attack on his girlfriend has escaped an immediate prison sentence. James Keep, 35, had been warned he faced prison after admitting the assault on Pauline Moules at her Colchester home last November.
Fake £20 notes are still circulating in the Colchester area, police are warning. At the end of March, Colchester police warned that forged £20 notes had been given to unsuspecting people on at least two occasions in Colchester town centre and in Coggeshall
Motorists should allow extra time for their journey when travelling through Marks Tey as roadworks begin today to improve the A12 from Hall Chase. It will last about a month and will be carried out day and night. It will affect the southbound entry slip
A motorist had a lucky escape after her car caught fire on a slip road. She was driving on to the London-bound A12 at Stanway on Friday at 1.20am when her blue Citroen Saxo was involved in a crash. She suffered a cut to her hand and was taken to hospital
Exhausted marathon runners can put their feet up today having conquered one of the toughest sporting challenges. Scores of north Essex residents joined the 35,000 throng pounding the capital's streets in the gruelling 26.2 mile London Marathon. For
Colchester United has announced new lower ticket prices for matches at the Community Stadium. The original price scheme for Cuckoo Farm was met by criticism from sections of the U's support, who felt the prices were unfair. That prompted chairman Robbie
The man charged with running Colchester's Community Stadium has been named. Clive Gilham, a qualified chartered accountant who has spent more than 25 years in industry, both as finance director and chief executive, has been appointed as a part-time chief
Six people were injured - including senior Ipswich Town officials - following a crash on the A12. A Ford Fiesta, Toyota Landcruiser and a Vauxhall Vectra were involved in a collision near to Mountnessing, on the Colchester-bound carriageway as traffic
A row of shops has been refurbished in a heritage project to restore a seaside town to its former glory. Three shops in Old Pier Street, Walton, have been restored in the scheme organised by the Walton Forum. The £250,000 Heritage Economic Regeneration
Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) will not be taken off the beat to accompany school children on a trip to London. Hamford Primary School asked the Frinton and Walton Town Council, which partly funds the town's community support officers, if
A man fell victim to a Good Samaritan-turned-pickpocket. He was in a public toilet block in High Street, Clacton, when he began to feel unwell and unsteady on his feet. He was helped by another man at the loos in the car park at the Somerfield supermarket
A school will investigate applying for trust status after the Government gave the idea the green light. Clacton County High, which has more than 1,600 pupils, has been included on a list of 115 schools accepted on the scheme. The idea of trust schools
Major works are under way to drill under the sea wall in Holland-on-Sea as part of a project to build a wind farm in the sea off Clacton. Onshore work for the Gunfleet Sands Wind Farm started on Friday as contractors began to drill a 450 metre-long hole
Police are investigating scenes of young drivers playing dangerous games with their cars posted on a video website. The short videos posted on Youtube show teenagers, wearing hooded tops and track suit bottoms, spinning around the Focus store car park
Seven fire crews were called to a fire on a ship at Parkeston Quay on Saturday. Firefighters from Dovercourt, Manningtree, Clacton and Maldon were called to reports of a fire at 5am. A spokesman from Clacton fire station said when crews arrived at the
Parents, butchers, taxi drivers and teachers were some of the variety of people who took part in the London Marathon. The 26.2-mile run yesterday saw about 92,000 runners take to the streets of London passing landmarks including the London Eye, Tower
God gave rock'n'roll to you! The anthem from 1970s US rock band Kiss could be on the order of service at a new event at Frinton Free Church. Seventh Hour, organised by youth pastor Jon Hills, is described as loud, contemporary and informal. It will
A banned driver sped off from police but gave himself up when he realised he couldn't outrun them. Officers recognised jobless teenager Matthew Harris when they spotted him behind the wheel of his girlfriend's car in Walton. Harris, 18, sped off up
Supporters of an animal charity which feared it might be forced to close hope they have made its future more secure. Clacton Animal Aid in Little Clacton faced potential enforcement action because its dogs were barking too much. Ann Simms, who runs
A former call centre is to be turned into a major chain hotel, flats, restaurant, a bar and shops. The development will create almost 50 jobs in Clacton. Travelodge has announced the conditional exchange of contracts on the former Woolwich call centre
ONLY 28.4 overs were possible on the second day of play at Fenners yesterday where Cambridge UCCE reached 76 for two in reply to the Essex total of 406 for four declared. Both wickets fell to David Masters, who was rewarded for an impressive spell, although
JAMES Gibson was unable to make up for his disappointment of missing out on the Olympics at the Short Course Championships, in Manchester. The international swimmer from Witham - who is now based in Marseille - finished eighth and last in the 100 metres
BRAINTREE TOWN were held to a goal-less draw by play-off rivals Newport County at a packed Cressing Road. A bumper crowd of 1,026 - Braintree's biggest of the season so far - watched the two promotion-chasing sides battle out an entertaining draw. However
WITHAM TOWN caretaker boss Tony Last lauded the contribution of Cody McDonald after seeing his side come from behind to win 2-1 at Essex rivals Aveley. McDonald scored one goal and made another to help Town secure three points at the Mill Field. Last
MALDON TOWN were beaten 2-1 by fellow play-off hopefuls Brentwood Town in division one north. Maldon could have gone in at half-time one or two up. Dean Parrott had an excellant chance but couldn't quite control the ball in the six-yard box with the
A SUPERB all-round display from HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS earned them three crucial points in their battle to avoid relegation from the premier division against Boreham Wood. On 14 minutes Sean Marks slid the ball home after an incisive long ball forward from
WIVENHOE TOWN found themselves back on the bottom of Ryman League, division one north after going down by the only goal at promotion-chasing Canvey Island. The all-important winner came on the stroke of half-time, courtesy of a close range Colin Wall
DANNY Rochester's early strike shocked promotion-chasing Ely City - and kept alive HALSTEAD TOWN'S own dreams of going up. A win would have sealed Ely's promotion to the Ridgeons League premier division but despite being without a number of key players
STANWAY ROVERS enjoyed a comfortable 2-0 victory over Woodbridge Town in the Ridgeons League premier division. The deadlock was finally broken in the 40th minute when top-scorer Sam Newson struck from 35 yards. Stanway wrapped up the points in the 75th
FC CLACTON swept to a straightforward Ridgeons League division one 3-0 win at home to Godmanchester Rovers. Sean Hillier, Ashley Howard and Mark White accounted for their goals and they also missed a penalty through Terry Rymer. Seasiders boss David
TIPTREE UNITED are Ridgeons League division one champions. And boss Colin Wallington has hailed their achievement as amazing' after they stretched their lead at the top of the table to 16 points with a 4-0 win at Thetford. He told the Gazette: "It is
DANNY Haynes ran out of superlatives to describe Ipswich Town's priceless 2-1 derby success against Norwich City. The midfielder-cum-striker slotted home his side's second goal to keep their play-off dream alive. And the 20-year-old was full of praise
JIM Magilton hailed the character of his Ipswich Town side after their well-earned 2-1 derby success against Norwich City. The Blues have endured an awkward couple of weeks, dropping points from home matches against Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff and
LEICESTER boss Ian Holloway is adamant his side has what it takes to climb clear of relegation trouble, despite their inability to beat bottom club Colchester United. The Foxes had to rely on a last-minute equaliser from substitute Iain Hume to rescue
COLCHESTER United manager Geraint Williams had praise for goal scorer Kevin Lisbie after their 1-1 draw with Leicester City. Williams was pleased to see Lisbie add another goal to his personal tally - but was not surprised to see him hit the net. "It
GOALSCORER Kevin Lisbie has hinted that he would like to stay at Colchester United next season - despite their relegation from the Coca-Cola Championship. The prolific striker netted his seventeenth goal of the season for the U's, in their 1-1 draw with
LOYAL Karl Duguid today pledged to help Colchester United recover from the heartache of relegation. U's skipper Duguid played his part in helping the U's clinch a well-deserved 1-1 Coca-Cola Championship draw with Leicester City at the Walkers Stadium
....we have reaction to the Leicester-Colchester match where the U's came so close to snatching victory, only to be foiled in the dying minutes ...there is the second voucher in our great Win a Day in a TV Studio contest ...plus we have Gazette Woman,
