WITH the eyes of the world focused on Danny Boyle's Olympic opening ceremony, dozens of volunteers from across north Essex played their part in making it a spectacular and historic night.

From Colchester's town crier Robert Needham to schoolchildren learning at Elmstead Market, our towns were well represented at the spectacular event.

Also in Monday's Gazette:

  • Jason Smith, 24, of Handel Walk, has been locked up for four years after flooring Roger Munday with a claw hammer on a Colchester street.
  • A man, 80, died after his car smashed through a brick wall, almost hitting a house.
  • Colchester United owner Robbie Cowling says jobs and potential footballers could be lost if their application to extend the training ground hours is turned down.

All this and much more in Monday's Gazette, just 43p. There's always much more in the newspaper than online.