Work to shore up embankments weakened by recent heavy rain caused delays to trains today. Rail services were delayed between Colchester and Manningtree while repairs were carried out to the trackside banks by Network Rail engineers. A spokesman for
A murder victim's mother has launched an appeal against the "nonsense" sentences handed out to her son's killers. Ann Oakes-Odger's son, Westley Odger, of Jack Andrews Drive, Colchester, was stabbed in the neck after an argument at a cashpoint machine
An improvement scheme at Colchester's former port is under way. A clear-up at King Edward Quay will begin the process of creating "a high-quality public space" alongside the banks of the River Colne. Illegal caravans and sunken boats will be cleared
New powers could be introduced to help police tackle drink-related disorder in Colchester. Officers would be able to arrest anyone who refuses to comply with a request to stop drinking if the proposed designated public places order is adopted. The order
A London brewery has moved lock, stock and barrel to the Essex countryside. Real ale fans in Colchester are celebrating after the award-winning Pitfield Brewery moved its operations to Great Horkesley after more than 20 years in the capital. The first
What makes Jaywick rock? Residents and holidaymakers are being invited to enter a competition to show what they love about the resort. Artist Karen Whiteread wants people to take pictures which she will turn into postcards in a competition called Jaywick
An organisation which provides support for the community is extending its hours to help youngsters receiving their GCSE results. Connexions has centres across Essex, including one in Station Road, Clacton. On Thursday, the day the long-awaited for GCSE
Harwich and Clacton MP Douglas Carswell is out of the red with his council tax. The MP found himself in a bit of a sticky situation when the online council tax payment he thought had gone through had failed. It left Mr Carswell, 35, owing £260 to Tendring
Those magnificent men in their flying machines will be going up diddly up this week as Clacton's annual airshow takes to the skies. The flying programme begins at 1.45pm on Thursday and Friday and the highlight will almost certainly be an appearance
We've had enough! A fed-up leisure boss today unveiled a zero tolerance campaign in a bid to crack down on vandals who are costing thousands of pounds each year. Tendring Council's leisure portfolio holder Pierre Oxley said it would make sure culprits
The Army today paid tribute to the Colchester soldier killed in Afganistan - and revealed his wife is expecting their second child next month. Corporal Bryan Budd is the fifth Colchester-based soldier to die in Afganistan. The 29-year-old soldier, from
An angry grandmother has called for stricter controls after her young grandson was nearly mown down by a mobility scooter. Four-year-old Cameron Bradley-Barrett was on the pavement when he narrowly missed injury in the incident. He was left shaken and
When nine-year-old Hayleigh Waddell went out searching for crickets she came home with more than she bargained for in her net. Hayleigh, of Great Clacton, caught a rare wasp spider while on the playing fields behind the Willow Tree Nursery. Her mum,
What's On Until Friday - Meet the Medieval knight, Colchester Castle. Until Saturday - The Last Gamble, Frinton Summer Theatre, Frinton WI Hall. Wednesday - Summer Special Show One, West Cliff Theatre, Clacton. 01255 433344. Wednesday - Peter Battey's
Residents in a Witham road have welcomed a new police campaign aimed at combating late-night rowdy behaviour. People who live in Collingwood Road, near the town centre, claim they have suffered from incidents of fighting, vandalism, litter problems and
Wing-walking 71-year-old Betty Callaghan has expressed her thanks to everyone who supported her daredevil escapade. The intrepid Dedham villager took off from a Gloucestershire airfield on Tuesday for the stunt to raise money for a maternity scanner
The first street in north Essex to ban door-to-door callers has been revealed. Traders are no longer allowed to call unannounced at homes in Manor Way, Holland-on-Sea. It was chosen amid fears vulnerable elderly residents were a prime target for conmen
Lawyers were today flying out to Cyprus to offer legal advice to four Witham men arrested following the death of a local teenager killed in a motorcycle accident. The men - Julian Harrington, 38, James Goodwin, 21, Michael Binnington, 21, and Luke Atkinson
When a paramotorist went for an evening flight in the skies above Braintree he had no idea he would cause an air search to be launched. Witnesses who saw his low-flying craft thought it was a falling parachute and feared a plane had crashed, so dialled
The beast is back! Following several sightings of the "Beast of Essex" in the last few weeks, the mysterious large black cat has been at large again. Martin Balcombe was shocked to spot the feline wandering across fields off Chigborough Road, Heybridge
Police are hunting two men after a teenage girl was attacked as she walked in an alleyway. The 18-year-old was set about as she used the walk way linking Harwich Road and Patmore Road in Colchester in the early hours of the morning. She suffered facial
What started out as a good deed has ended up with a helicopter airlift to hospital for a Halstead man. The 64-year-old offered to cut a hedge as a favour at a house in Colne Engaine - but the man fell from a ladder and seriously injured his leg.
A seven-year-old girl was allegedly indecently assaulted in the toilet of a Colchester pub. The incident was reported to have happened on Saturday night. The pub cannot be identified for legal reasons. Police arrested a 25-year-old man on suspicion
A woman was in jail today for setting fire to her former boyfriend's home. Susan Revell, of Clockhouse Way, Braintree, used firelighters to start the blaze in the three-bedroom house after the relationship broke down. A court also heard yesterday how
Shell-shocked... but having the time of her life. That's how Colchester's Leanne Dobinson described what it is like being one of the contestants on the primetime BBC talent show, How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? The 20-year-old spoke to the Evening
Union representatives and Swissport bosses remain locked in negotiations in a bid to avert a bank holiday weekend strike over pay at Stansted Airport. The Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) and GMB, and representatives of Swissport, started talking
Ronnie Irani returns to his happy hunting ground' when he leads Essex into action in their Twenty20 Floodlit Cup battle against Sussex at Hove this evening. In his last two visits he has scored centuries, while he also took a ton off them at Chelmsford
Braintree Town are reeling after learning that summer signing Dwayne Plummer will have to serve a ten-match suspension. The striker's Cressing Road future is in doubt after he failed to inform Iron boss George Borg about the lengthy ban, enforced after
Former lifeguard, turned footballer, Chris Barker is determined to prevent Colchester United from sinking without trace. The left-back, who started his career at non-league Alfreton Town, paid his way keeping swimmers safe at the local leisure centre
Let's kick-start our season. That's the view of Colchester United midfielder Kevin Watson, ahead of the U's Carling Cup first-round clash with MK Dons tonight. Newly-promoted Colchester have so far found the Coca-Cola Championship hard going, losing
Martin Brittain is on course for a swift Ipswich Town debut in tonight's Carling Cup first-round encounter at Peterborough United. The midfielder put pen to paper on a one-year contract with the club yesterday morning. Now he is in boss Jim Magilton's
