Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell joins fight for disclosure...

A leading human rights campaigner has joined the fight to get Essex Police to hand over evidence which supporters say may prove the innocence of notorious serial killer Jeremy Bamber.A petition has been launched to force Essex Police's hand over the evidence, which has been withheld under Public Interest Immunity (PII), attracting the backing of Peter Tatchell.The well-known campaigner, 63, appeared on BBC Radio Essex to argue the case, saying: "My understanding is that there are 10 items...

Almost 3,000 sign petition supporting planning application for...

More than 2,700 people have signed a petition calling for a dog rescue centre to be granted the planning permission necessary to carry on operating.AA Dog Rescue, based in Latchingdon, could face closure, after Maldon District Council served planning enforcement notices on the home, after finding that the home had been operating without applying for a change of use, from agricultural and equestrian to a rescue centre.A petition has been launched, addressed to Maldon District Council's Interim...

Teenager arrested after double shooting and stabbing

Police are appealing for information after they were called at 11.23am on Sunday September 27 with reports a man had been seen with a firearm in Meadow Lane, Runwell. While officers were at the scene making enquiries, a further call was made shortly before 12pm reporting two men had been admitted to hospital with gunshot wounds. The men, aged 37 and 39, from the Basildon and Wickford areas, are currently being treated for their injuries, which are serious but not life threatening. Police...

Matthew Smith denies murder of pregnant Burnham-on-Crouch...

A man has denied murdering pregnant mum-of-two Becky Parker, who was found dead in her home in July.Matthew Smith, 23, of Wood Corner Caravan Park, Maldon, appeared in Chelmsford Crown Court this morning (September 28) where he pleaded not guilty to one count of murder. Isobel Parker, known to her friends and family as Becky, was found in her home at Booth Place, Burnham-on-Crouch, on Friday July 17.Smith was arrested on Friday afternoon, before being charged with the 23-year-old's murder.Dozens...

PM meets Iran president over Syria

Prime Minister David Cameron holds face-to-face talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani as part of a bid to revive the Syrian peace process.

PICTURES: Burnham Carnival 2015

Gallery created by Chris_Rushton

Woman dies after two-vehicle crash on Burnham Road in Woodham...

A woman who was involved in a two-car crash in Woodham Mortimer last week has died in hospital.The collision, on Burnham Road last Wednesday afternoon involved a Mini Cooper and a Ford Transit van and left three people being treated by paramedics.The 30-year-old woman, described as being from the Maldon district, had been in a critical condition since the accident, but unfortunately passed away on Wednesday, September 23.A spokeswoman from Essex Police said: "We can confirm that a woman...

Restaurant's fence defence campaign gathers strength in South...

RESIDENTS have sprung to the defence of a bar and restaurant in a dispute over a new fence.The Eatery and Liquid Lounge bar, in Heralds Way, South Woodham Ferrers, put up the fence to protect bins and hide them from view.However, a complaint lodged by a nearby businessman, Colin Powell, has sparked a row that has resulted in Chelmsford City Council giving the bar's owners, including Steve Putt, a month to remove the fence – or face the consequences.Steve, 45, from Champions Way in...

595,000 tonnes of UK's rubbish could be burned in Essex in plan...

A CONTROVERSIAL waste plant that will see upwards of 145,000 more lorries on the A12 each year wants to increase the amount it can incinerate by about 65 per cent.Developer Gent Fairhead already has permission from Essex County Council to build the 16-hectare site at Rivenhall Airfield and import rubbish from outside the county.But it has asked for further amendments to the approved plans that will see an incinerator handling up to 595,000 tonnes of commercial and industrial waste annually, 65...

Photo Gallery: Maldon Regatta

Gallery created by GHMorgan

Heybridge Alternative Provision School celebrates 'Outstanding'...

A SCHOOL that caters for students unable to attend mainstream education is celebrating a spectacular four-year turn around.Heybridge Alternative Provision School, on The Street, Heybridge, achieved an outstanding rating from Ofsted only four years after being criticised for poor standards.Executive headteacher Philomena Cozens said: "We have focused on improving on teaching and learning and ensuring that most of our students study five GCSEs and can go on to college, apprenticeships or...

'Man Utd can challenge for title'

Manchester United's victory at Southampton proves they can challenge for the Premier League title, says manager Louis van Gaal.

Mystery blaze on Maldon boat crushes owner's dreams of houseboat...

FIREFIGHTERS took four hours to put out a mystery blaze on a boat.Two crews from Maldon and one from Witham were called to the Ranger at 5.35pm on Thursday afternoon last week.The aft end of the boat was most badly affected, with the wheel house bearing the brunt of the damage.Owner Chris Brown said: "I was there working on the boat until about half past three."I left and then got a phone call from a friend telling me it was on fire. I came down about six and it was fully...

Female chef, 22, took her own life behind Jack's Centre in...

A 22-YEAR-OLD woman whose case file "made for very sad reading" took her own life after taking a cocktail of anti-depressants, alcohol and cocaine, an inquest heard.Sadiane Roach, known as Shard, was found hanging behind the Jack's Centre, in Burnham Road, Latchingdon at about 5.40pm on March 24.The chef and budding rapper had been known to mental health services from a young age, having experienced "a whole number of sad life events", with an early referral made by a school...

Mary Poppins of death brings new death cafe to Burnham-on-Crouch

"EVERYONE dies. Death belongs to everyone."That is the message of Louise de Winter, described as the 'the Mary Poppins of death', who brought her death cafe across the Atlantic to Burnham-on-Crouch.Despite normally inhabiting Brooklyn rather than Burnham, Louise, 28, said she was delighted with the turnout for the unusual event, which encourages an open dialogue about mortality.At a death cafe, people, often strangers, gather to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death.Louise said:...

Factory worker moments away from death after False Widow spider...

A factory worker was seconds away from death following a bite from a False Widow spider – just two weeks after getting an arachnid tatt. Courtney Mates noticed the eight-legged fiend in her home in Chelmsford one evening before noticing a small red mark on the inside of her knee. But after waking up in the morning, the 20-year-old noticed the swelling had worsened overnight and began losing consciousness at work. The E2V worker said: "I saw the spider in my bedroom and the ceilings are...

Two men charged after gunshots heard in street

Two men have been charged in connection with a disturbance in Alton Gardens, Southend, which happened on July 1. Richard Piper, 25, of Carolines Close, Southend, and Aaron Piper, 18, of Delaware Crescent, Shoebury, have been charged with affray and possession of an offensive weapon. The incident happened at 6.30pm with witnesses reporting a man with a firearm firing shots. The weapon is believed to have been an air gun. The men will appear before magistrates in Southend on September 23.

Student threatened with knife before being punched and kicked for...

Police investigating two knifepoint robberies in Colchester which happened in August are appealing for witnesses. Both happened on August 26. The first happened between 3.50pm and 4.50pm in Walsingham Road, where a group of four to five men approached a male student, aged 20, from behind, two produced knives and took his mobile phone before he was punched and kicked. The second happened in Osborne Street between 4pm and 6pm when again a group of men demanded the 16-year-old male victim's...

Police trace two men after victim left unconscious and with a...

Police investigating the assault of two men in Chelmsford High Street are releasing CCTV images of two men they need to trace. Just after 3.35am on Saturday, August 29, two men were assaulted by a group of men. One man aged 32 from Benfleet was hit unconscious and left with a broken nose. The other, aged 24 from Wickford, was left with bruising to his face. Three men were arrested near the scene on suspicion of ABH. Two 20-year-old men from Maldon and a 22-year-old man from Colchester are...

PICTURES: Great Dunmow Triathlon

Gallery created by Chris_Rushton

Pregnant mother in Chelmsford three-car crash as driver suffers...

A driver has suffered a head injury after a three-car crash in Chelmsford this afternoon. The three-car crash happened at around 3.15pm today after a Nissan Micra crashed into the back of a silver Volkswagen Golf and flipped onto its side. Beehive Lane was closed in both directions while police cleared the crash scene and traffic was diverted along Stock Road. Scott Bennett's VW Golf was towed away after the Micra ploughed into the back of him as he took his three sons to play...

PICTURES: Heybridge Swifts V Uxbridge

Gallery created by Chris_Rushton

Four car crash blocking Beehive Lane both ways

A four car crash has blocked Beehive Lane in both directions. One of the cars has overturned onto its roof near the junction of Stock Road. The road remains closed and will do so until the accident has been cleared. More to follow.

PICTURES: European Woodworking Show

Gallery created by Chris_Rushton

Five-figure sum stolen in Lakeside bank job

Police are appealing for witnesses after burglary at Santander bank at intu Lakeside which happened overnight. We were contacted just after 8.30am this morning with reports the branch at the Thurrock shopping centre had been broken in to via the roof. The break-in is believed to have happened between 1.35am and 3.50am this morning. One of the ATMs was broken in to and money removed from elsewhere in the premises. It's believed at this time the amount stolen is a five-figure sum. The branch...

Britain's most venomous spider set to invade Essex homes

Experts have warned households to expect visitors during September as Britain's most venomous spider is set to invade Essex. The False Widow spider could be attracted to the milder temperatures of the next couple of months and could be crawling through your home soon. The numbers of False Widows in this country has rocketed into the millions, and they are only set to get bigger. A bite from a False Widow is said to be as painful as a bee sting and can grow to be 3cm across. You can identify...

Police search for three men in connection with Braintree burglary

Police investigating a burglary in Cressing, near Braintree, are releasing CCTV images of three men they want to trace. A house in Braintree Road, Tye Green, was broken in to between 3.30am and 5.30am on July 23. Stolen from inside the house was a laptop computer, camera and Sony PlayStation games console. A pink baby girl gift bag was stolen which is believed to have been used to carry the PlayStation. Three men police would like to speak to in connection with the burglary were seen boarding...

Police hunt for fake council worker checking drains for cash

Police are on the hunt for a man pretending to be from the council and checking drains for cash. Essex Police have released an efit image of a man they want to trace in connection with an attempt to obtain money from a woman in Harlow by fraudulent means. A man attended the address of an elderly woman in The Hornbeams, Harlow, at around 3pm on July 15 purporting to be working for a company on behalf of the council and needed to check her drains. He was permitted access to the woman's house...

Five back to school illnesses your child could pick up from the...

As your children go back to school, the likelihood of them catching common illnesses is likely to rise. With the number of germ contaminated surfaces and contact with other infectious children the risk is inevitable. The most common illnesses caught on the return to school include: Common Cold The main symptoms of a cold are: A sore throat A blocked or runny nose Sneezing A cough Fever As a general rule, in children, a temperature of over 37.5C (99.5F) is a fever. Taking paracetomol can...

Maldon teenager locked up after robbery which saw 15-year-old...

A TEENAGER who helped orchestrate a sickening assault which saw his victim stamped on 40 times laughed and joked in court before being put behind bars.The 15-year-old boy was punched and kicked during the attack off Mill Road, Maldon, on February 21, suffering a burst eardrum, along with multiple other injuries. Appearing in Chelmsford Youth Court on Friday, the two 14-year-old defendants, one from Maldon and one from Heybridge and who cannot be named for legal reasons, laughed and joked with...

PICTURES: Fire at Heybridge Basin

Gallery created by Chris_Rushton

Maldon's Wetherspoon's pub, The Rose and Crown, forced to close...

AN INFESTATION of flies forced Maldon's new Wetherspoon's pub to close less than a month after its grand opening.The Rose and Crown was taken over by the pub giants, with £1.7million spend on a renovation of the High Street site, before its August launch, however an issue over waste forced a four-day closure this week.The pub was closed from last Wednesday until Saturday, and Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: "The infestation in the pub is a result of the commercial waste not...

Creative workshops unite artistic Maldon residents

POETRY workshops, mug painting and live music were just some of the creative events uniting Maldon this bank holiday weekend.Make It Maldon, the brainchild of 22-year-old Willow Shepstone, offered a range of artistic opportunities for shop owners, residents and visitors over three days.The former Plume School student, now at Nottingham Trent University, scooped a £1,500 grant from Essex County Council to implement her plan for Make It Maldon. Its success has paved the way for repeat...

Thousands join together to remember and celebrate Bradwell Bay...

AFTER almost a year of preparation, a one-off event to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the decommissioning of Bradwell Bay airfield drew in more than 2,000 visitors.Organised by engineer Ian Ward and his partner Sarah Burrows, the day-long spectacular combined music, dancing, stalls and activities with flights over the bay from historic fighter planes.As well as a celebration, Thursday last week was a chance to remember the 121 servicemen from around the world who died on missions while...

Race against the clock to raise £75,000 to revive...

A FORMER hairdresser is facing a race against time to put Essex in the national spotlight by bringing back what could become the "biggest spectacle" in the county's sporting calendar.Brian Moran, 67, wants to resurrect the Essex Trophy cycle race, which he masterminded in the 1970s and 1980s, for April 2016.He has drafted a 175km route, weaving through Chelmsford, South Woodham Ferrers, Burnham, Maldon, Hatfield Peverel, Pleshey, Roxwell and Writtle for 125 elite club cyclists.Yet...

Councillor keen to bring new festive fair to Maldon High Street

IT'S still shorts weather but one man is already thinking festive as he prepares to give Maldon a new Christmas fair.The vintage-inspired event, being run in conjunction with Maldon Town Council and Maldon District Council, will combine the annual switch-on of the Christmas lights with a talent competition and fancy dress contest.Councillor Michael Pearlman, a representative on both town and district authorities, said: "I want this to be a day to remember, and one that truly puts Maldon on...

Maldon District has one of the lowest uni participation rates in...

PARTS of Maldon district have some of the lowest rates of youngsters going on to university in the country, Government data has revealed.Figures from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) show that the Maldon East ward has a participation rate of just 14.7 per cent, well below the national average of almost 35 per cent.Heybridge West faces a similar scenario, with just 19 per cent of students choosing to enter higher education.The district as a whole appears in the bottom 40...

Gunman shot in leg by armed police in Dunmow

Armed officers attended Knights Way in Dunmow at around 10pm on Tuesday, September 1, following reports that a man was in the area carrying two firearms. The man was shot by armed officers. He suffered leg injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment where he currently remains. The 48-year-old man from Dunmow was arrested in relation to firearms offences. Two suspected firearms have been recovered from the scene by officers. The incident has been referred to the IPCC which has launched...

New government rules mean travellers must prove they move

A government crackdown on travellers that begins today will see gypsies forced to 'prove' that they move in order to stay on designated sites.The new ruling is intended to make it easier for local communities to have a say in where sites should be, and for local councils to take action against 'unauthorised' occupation of land.The report said: "The Government's view is that where travellers have ceased to travel then they should be treated no differently to members of the settled...