Archive
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Chelmsford crash driver did not stop
A Mercedes driver left the number plate of his car at the scene of an accident when he failed to stop after a collision with a motorcyclist. Trevor Hayes, 42, of Writtle Road, Chelmsford, admitted driving with excess alcohol and failing to stop after
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Leigh: Honeymoon couple leap for their lives in cruise drama
A pair of newlyweds who leapt for their lives from a burning cruise liner were yesterday flying back to their Leigh home. Glen and Carlotta Bird jumped from the Sun Vista and watched it sink off the west coast of Malaysia as they sat in a lifeboat waiting
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Cue for a leading role.....
TOM KING talks to Bob and Eve Kelly, pillars of am dram and founders of the Little Theatre Club 50 years ago Although both of them waved goodbye to their 80th birthdays some time ago, Bob and Eve Kelly remain a hale and bonny couple Their sense of wellbeing
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Colchester: Amy's parents tell of sad loss
The devastated parents of a Colchester schoolgirl who fell to her death from a multi-storey car-park have told of their loss. Kevin and Sue Burgess, of Prince Albert Road, West Mersea, issued a statement following the death of their daughter Amy, 16.
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Colchester man jailed for sex with girl aged 12
A man has been jailed for two and a half years for having sex with a 12-year-old girl. A court heard the man responsible was 34 at the time of the offences. And Chelmsford Crown Court also heard how matters came to light when an intimate letter written
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Basildon: Ambulance raid on 999 call
A paramedic today hit out at thieves who raided an ambulance while staff were on an emergency call. They jumped into the back of the ambulance while paramedics were helping a woman with a broken leg. They stole paramedic Joanne Clark's coat, which contained
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Colchester: Murder probe after man stabbed
A murder inquiry has been launched after a man was stabbed to death in Colchester. Thirty-year-old Tommy Boles was certified dead at Colchester General Hospital at 10.15pm last night following an incident half an hour earlier on a grass square outside
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Soccer: Cundy vows to bounce back
Jason Cundy has vowed to bounce back from his latest footballing setback. The former Tottenham and Chelsea defender can now add Ipswich Town as an ex-club after being surprisingly released along with four other players. Cundy missed virtually all the
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Athletics: Essex duo boost England
Essex athletes Sarah Claxton and Julie Pratt helped England to victory in a five-team tournament at Loughborough University. Colchester's Claxton leaped to a 6.56m in the long jump while Chelmsford's Pratt ran a 13.28 seconds in the 100m hurdles. Their
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Soccer: Colchester star agrees contract extension
Layer Road golden boy Lomana Tresor Lua Lua has pledged his immediate future to Colchester United by signing for another year. The 18-year-old French Zairos whizz-kid, who became an instant hit with U's fans following his Football League scoring debut
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Cricket: Essex still looking for first Sunday win
Essex are still searching for their first National League victory of the season after going down in another thriller at Chelmsford. This time it was Yorkshire who inflicted defeat when, replying to a total of 220-9, they claimed the spoils of war with
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Bowls: Charity tournament is heralded a major success
Saturday April 24 saw the Hunters Carpet Bowls Club hold their annual charity tournament, and this year's charity was The Essex Air Ambulance Service. 75 teams took part playing on 15 rinks. The first round was played on a round robin basis, the 15 winners
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Aikido club is a dream come true
Braintree-based martial arts club Braintree Aiki-Budo Kai has opened its permanent training hall (dojo) which is located at The Four Seasons, Lakes Road, Braintree. This is the culmination of two year's hard work by the instructors and students of the
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Cuddly friends at Southend Library
Southend Toy Library has been given a boost which will help youngsters smile. The new Southend mayor, Tony North, has chosen the library, based at Southend Hospital, as one of his nominated charities for his year of office. He pledged his support by officially
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Basildon: Hot footing around Gloucester Park
Runners will be hot footing it around Gloucester Park, Basildon, next month to raise cash for the valuable work of Victim Support. The run, which works out at a strenuous 5km or 3.1 miles, will start at the athletics track of the Basildon Council-owned
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Mid Essex: Bid for improved airport bus links
The chairman of Witham and Braintree Rail Users' Association is to meet with Eastern National in a bid to win improved bus links with Stansted Airport. David Bigg, chairman of the association, will outline plans for a "vastly improved" service when he
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Cricket: King of the Castle
Rayne lost out to Hedingham in a high scoring match on Sunday, with six players scoring over 40. For Rayne, Dave Dawson (63) and Mick Richardson (93) shared 167 for the first wicket, and Ian Clark chipped in with an unbeaten 45 as Rayne set a challenging
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Soccer: Ipswich pair wait on Keegan's call
Kieron Dyer and Richard Wright are set to put their promotion disappointment behind them with an England call-up. The Ipswich duo could be included in Kevin Keegan's squad for the two Euro 2000 qualifying matches against Sweden and Bulgaria, which is
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Soccer: Colchester new boys set targets
Colchester United new boys Sagi Burton and Joe Keith are determined to make their new team a Division Two force to be reckoned with. Burton - a 21-year-old central defender from first division Crystal Palace - and Keith - a 20-year-old left-sided defender
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Soccer: Ex-U's at Wembley
Colchester United will be well represented in this weekend's three Wembley promotion play-off finals. Former U's FA Trophy winning hero Scott Barrett - a double penalty saver against Rotherham in Wednesday's semi-finals - keeping goal for Leyton Orient
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Soccer: Fairfax and Beech are treble kings
Southend's's Fairfax Rangers and crack Basildon outfit Beech United are the Southend Junior League treble kings. Having triumphed in their respective Premier Divisions and East Anglian Cups this season, both were searching for their third major honour
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Cricket round-up: Stacey experiment pays off
Steve Stacey, normally a fast bowler, opened the Canvey innings as an experiment and top scored with a great unbeaten 47 from 42 balls. He got good backing from Dave Shroder, 27 not out in 20 balls, as the Islanders won by eight wickets with 25.5 overs
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Women's cricket: Brenda's England joy
Bowler Brenda Brown is set to make her England debut next month after being selected in the squad for the first time. Brenda, who plays for Colchester Ladies at their Eudo Road base, will play in a home nations tournament in Belfast next month. She said
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Running: Fisher is in charge
There was no water about but Tiptree Road Running Club's Alan Fisher (better known in running circles as the 'Flying Fish') stormed to success around the Halstead Road Run-ners' Marathon course at the weekend. In sometimes windy conditions and on a testing
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Colchester: Appeal target reached
We've done it! The Eye Scan Appeal supported by This Is Essex partner paper the Gazette has reached its £15,000 target to buy a vital piece of equipment for Essex County Hospital. Within just two months of launching its appeal the Colchester League of
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Cold Norton: Ski trip tragedy
A skiing trip led to tragedy for a Cold Norton man when he crashed into a snowdrift and suffocated, an inquest heard. John Dean, 35, of Latchingdon Road, died while skiing in Meribel les Allues, France in February. His friend Ian Palfreyman, of Platters
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Billericay crash victim stable
A 45-year-old man involved in a serious accident in Billericay a week ago was today still recovering in intensive care. Brian Street, of Surrey Avenue, Leigh, was taken to Basildon Hospital with serious head and leg injuries after a crash on Noak Hill
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Mid Essex: Leah's dad hits out at Government drugs tsar
The Government's Drugs Tsar Keith Hallewell has been criticised for not doing enough to keep youngsters away from hard drugs like heroin. That was the warning from leading anti-drugs campaigners Paul and Jan Betts who have led a high profile campaign
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Laindon: Left abandoned in cardboard box
These three fluffy bundles of fur were today looking for new homes after being found abandoned on a Laindon street. The trio had been crammed inside a cardboard box with a fourth friend and left to die in Brendon. But a keen-eared passer by, who lives
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Eastwood: Thief dad is jailed
A father-to-be who stole to try to provide for his unborn baby was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment. Jonathon Howe, 23, of Neil Armstrong Way, Eastwood, had pleaded guilty to three charges of burglary and two of theft at Basildon Crown Court. One of
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Colchester: Neighbours unsurprised at crime
Residents living in the cul-de sac where Tommy Boles died said they were "not surprised" the crime had happened in their community. Mr Boles, 30, died last night just yards from his home after an incident on the greensward used as a children's play area
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Braintree girl 14, swims Channel for charity
Fourteen-year-old Braintree swimmer Ruth Fay is to take part in a cross-Channel marathon as part of her quest to help find a cure for cancer. Ruth, of Nelson Gardens, is determined to help the fight against the disease after seeing two close relatives
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Thundersley: High-flying chef seeks £300,000 compensation for accident
A former high-flying hotel chef whose career was destroyed by injuries suffered in a horrific motorbike smash was today battling for compensation in London's High Court. Keith Bundy was once senior sous chef in the kitchens of London's Royal Lancaster
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Soccer: Clacton - cleanest team by a mile
A team from Clacton has been dubbed the cleanest in the country after going through the season without picking up a single booking. Clacton Town A, who finished third in the KeConnect Internet Division Three, went 18 league games and another half dozen
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Tendring: New town plan
Tendring could get a new town in the millennium. A major home builder is airing a fresh look at plans in the three Greens area around Frating and a local landowner has a second scheme centred around Boudge Hill in Great Bromley. In the last three years
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Tendring: Merger plan for two schools
Two primary schools in north Tendring could be joined together following a controversial review of primary education, it has been revealed. Parents and villagers in Ramsey and Little Oakley are to be asked their views on plans to amalgamate Little Oakley
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Mersea Island bug bother
A health warning has gone out on West Mersea - over a severe infestation of furry brown caterpillars. At least three people have suffered skin reactions after coming into contact with barbed hairs of the brown-tailed moth caterpillars. The insects, described
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Leah parents in drugs plea
The Government's drugs czar Keith Hellawell has been criticised for not doing enough to keep youngsters away from hard drugs like heroin. That was the warning from leading anti-drugs campaigners Paul and Jan Betts who have led a high profile campaign
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Colchester: Firemen called to coal yard blaze
An investigation has been launched into a suspicious fire at a Colchester coal merchants. Arsonists could be behind the blaze which wrecked hundreds of pounds worth of equipment and £2,000 of coal. Firefighters were called to Charringtons' yard in Hythe
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Chelmsford: Dead man 'binged on drugs'
A 41-year-old Chelmsford man died from an overdose because he was hoarding prescribed drugs to binge on once a week, an inquest heard. Stephen Chapman was found dead by his wife at his home in Dorset Avenue in January. Mr Chapman, a former drug addict
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Witham: 'Sedatives failed to stop air rage'
Sedatives given to a plumber who flew into an attack of air rage after being told to stop ogling porn on a laptop computer aboard a jumbo jet had little effect, a court heard. Ian Bottomley, of Larch Grove, Witham, was so aggressive a doctor thought he
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Canvey seafront work hit by third burglary
A block paver who has tirelessly helped rebuild Canvey seafront was yesterday counting his losses after £3,000 of tools were stolen. It is the third time in three months that Danny Bovill, 23, owner of Elmsleigh Paving at Charfleets industrial estate,
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Maldon: Help is at hand
Help is at hand - that's the message for hundreds of carers across the Maldon district as part of National Carers Week. The Maldon Carers Centre has lined up a week of activities to mark the efforts of carers who often spend so much time looking after
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Bocking: Dolls draw in the crowds
Brenda Bond's family and friends have learned to look after their locks or risk losing them when she's on the hunt for spare hair. She's used their tresses to top off her astonishing collection of more than 400 hand-made dolls. The impressive collection
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Kelvedon: Suspect gunman alert
A suspected gunman seen brandishing a firearm on top of a curry house turned out to be a harmless do-it-yourself enthusiast. The alarm was raised after the "gunman" was spotted with what appeared to be a weapon on the roof of the K2 Indian restaurant,
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Strongarm tactics put Maldon in the spotlight
They came, they saw - but only one of them conquered. The contest to find the World's Strongest Man started this weekend in Maldon. Hundreds of people arrived at the town's promenade park on Sunday afternoon to witness the region's most burly blokes take
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Colchester, Wivenhoe: Bomb victim told of his wife's death
Soho nail bomb victim Julian Dykes was today being comforted by family as he faced up to the news that his pregnant wife had died in the attack. Mr Dykes, 26, of Taragona Mews, Colchester, finally regained conciousness three weeks after the blast - only
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Canvey: Making a mark in record book
Enthusiastic youngsters helped Canvey library support a countywide bid to create the world's largest bookmark. The attempt was organised by libraries throughout Essex as part of celebrations for the National Year of Reading. People were asked to contribute
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Southend: £3.2m boost for A&E unit
Hospital bosses at Southend are jubilant at getting the go-ahead for a much-needed £3.2 million expansion of the accident and emergency department. Work is due to start almost immediately on the first phase, which will increase the size of the observation
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Southend: Raw sewage floods brook
A massive testing operation was under way today after 100,000 gallons of raw sewage seeped into Prittle Brook in Southend. Environment Agency experts are busying sampling the water in the brook, the River Roach and the estuary to see if any damage has
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Soccer: Blues' chairman vows changes
Changes will be made at Ipswich in the summer vowed Town chairman David Sheepshanks. The Blues supremo paid tribute to the players and fans after their gallant play-off failure for the third successive season. While Premiership vultures hover for the
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Cricket: Hockley humbled by Rayne
Rayne continued their fine start to the season with a convincing victory over Hockley on Saturday. Batting first, Hockley were starved of runs thanks to a tight spell of bowling from Jim Dodge (12-7-16-2). Moving the ball both ways he caused the batsman
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Witham: Council caught in a rat trap
A family of rats are plaguing an office complex and have caused problems for pest controllers. The rats have taken up residence in Freebournes Court - near to the Witham area offices of Braintree Council. But the council's own environmental services department
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Mistley: Council sued over beer bill
A High Court writ demanding repayment of money said to be owed by a former sports and social club has been served on a parish council. Brewer Carlsberg Tetley is demanding the payment of bills by Mistley Parish Council, mainly for beer supplied to the
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Wickford: Rotarians travelling in style
Four intrepid Wickford rotarians today embarked on a voyage from Lands End to John O'Groats - in a bid to raise £20,000 for charity. The quartet are spending 10 days travelling the length of Great Britain in a 1915 model T Ford. Wickford Rotary Club president
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Billericay and Wickford fight for freedom
Democracy for Wickford and Billericay residents looks set to hit the political agenda this summer. Councillors for the two towns have asked for the problem of Basildon Council overturning their decisions to be urgently addressed. Frustrated members recently
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Stanford-le-Hope: Soldiers mourn scooter death pal
Road crash victim John Rooney was today being mourned by his pals in the Territorial Army. The 35-year-old soldier was returning from TA training to his home in Sandringham Close, Stanford-le-Hope, when his scooter crashed. It collided with a broken down
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Cricket: Young guns to give Essex lift
Ricky Anderson and Tim Walton are poised to make their championship debuts for Essex when the county go into action against Gloucestershire tomorrow. Both are included in a party of 12 who today travelled to Gloucester for a clash Essex desperately need
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Soccer: Stars pitch in for charity
A celebrity team from Arsenal will take to the pitch on Canvey when a football fundraiser is held for voluntary groups. The special Arsenal team will face Canvey Island Football Club in the game on Sunday August 8. Players who could appear for the North
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Speedway: Colin is White hot for Arena
Maximum man Colin White led Arena Essex to a fine victory in a match against traditionally-tough rivals Reading that was littered with excitement and tinged with controversy. Hammers, who saw John Wainwright and Leigh Lanham fall in heat one, responded
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School sports: Mayflower pupils embark on US sports trip
Eighteen students from Billericay's Mayflower School set sail on a trip of a lifetime this weekend when they depart for Indianapolis in America for an eight-day stay. Those making the trip are the years nine and ten soccer and basketball teams and during
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Golf: Medal winners
The Forrester Park Golf Club ladies section played a Texas Scramble when the winners were Chris Myers, Doreen Mortlock, Eileen Bolton with a net 64.34 while the runners-up were Maggie Lintner, Anne Hamilton, Doris Bays (net 65.8). On Tuesday, the ladies
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Cricket: Sainsbury bowls tight last over to see Rayne to victory
Rayne visited old rivals Hullbridge on Saturday, and looking to carry on their good form from the previous week. Rayne batted first and after the loss of Dawson, Mick Richardson and Mark Sainsbury dominated the Hullbridge attack. They took Rayne to 147
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Clacton: Old school site set to be developed
Controversial plans to develop the site of a former infants school in Clacton have been given the all-clear by a government inspector. Essex County Council applied for planning permission to build homes on St Osyth Road Infants School which has been closed
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Southend: Death could not have been foreseen
The suffocation of a nine-year-old girl by her mother in a Southend guest house was a "tragedy that could not have been foreseen," an independent inquiry revealed today. Mentally ill Anne Murrie suffocated her daughter Louise while the pair were staying
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Shoebury: New role for pub
Major building work was today under way as plans to turn a Shoebury pub into sheltered housing for the elderly moved a step closer. Contractors have now fenced off the site to the public as a massive reconstruction programme - scheduled to take many months
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Southend: Tories attack deputy mayor
Tories in Southend have expressed concerns about Lib Dem council leader Graham Longley being the town's deputy mayor this year. Conservative group leader Charles Latham said it was "inappropriate" for the council leader to be deputy mayor. However, Mr
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Great Wakering: PE teacher pulls down gym
A teacher took a JCB to his school's gym - to make way for a state-of-the-art replacement. Sports teacher Paul Hart started the demolition of the gym at Alleyn Court Prep School in Wakering Road, Great Wakering. A new £300,000 sports hall is being built
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Colchester: Bomb victim shuts himself away
Devastated Julian Dykes has cut himself off from the world after learning that his pregnant wife and best friend were killed in a nail bomb attack. The Soho bomb blast victim woke up from a three week coma at the weekend to be told that wife Andrea and
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Soccer: Sagi poised to sign for U's
Crystal Palace defender Osagyefo Burton-Godwin was poised to sign for Colchester United on Friday. U's boss Mick Wadsworth revealed the giant Birmingham born, 21-year-old centre back, more commonly known as Sagi Burton, was set to sign a two-year deal
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Colchester: Man injured in street clash
Two groups of drunken men clashed in Colchester town centre on FA Cup Final day. One man suffered head injuries in the fight which started in High Street but spread to Lion Walk Shopping Centre at 7pm on Saturday. Police were called and the area was sealed
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Clacton man jailed for attack on GP
A man with a personality disorder has been jailed for four months for assaulting a doctor at his Clacton surgery and a patient who intervened. Peter Harris, of Knox Court, Old Road, Clacton, walked into Dr John Weir's practice in Wellesley Road in January
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Brentwood: Man dead in wreckage for five hours
A man lay dead in the wreckage of his car for more than five hours before police discovered him. Andrew Russen, 43, of Heron Way, Brentwood, was found by Thames Valley Police in his BMW Cabriolet at the bottom of a steep embankment off the west-bound
